Dude, where's my money? What to expect when first starting your career.

Wow, we are on a thread here and again it seems like the wrong question to me, but perhaps I am not being fair.

The standard scale for any job is available from many sources, whether it is an engineer or a teacher. Expectations should be established on that basis.

I have seen young folks that worked for me that got out of college and forgot they still had limitations. They bought a new car, new clothes, a big screen etc., then would come in and complain they did not make enough money. Somehow they felt the employer was short changing them. They forgot what the going value was for what they did. Many times they became bitter because they thought after 4 or 5 years of college they would be on easy street.

So the key is to understand what money you will get and just like you did in college budget your expenses and live within your budget. Be prepared to buy the used car and perhaps still eat at home. Understand you are starting out and the big bucks come when you have paid your dues and bring exceptional value to your job.