Salary for All People in All Surveys

Career Salaries - Average Salary for Various Jobs

For the average American, salary is a big consideration. It affects our lifestyles, our aspirations, how we feel about our jobs. Salary may shape the career paths we choose and where we decide to live. Given the wide range in salary for jobs across the United States, how can we ensure that we are being paid well for the work we do? Researching the average salary for various jobs is one way to see how your salary compares to the average American salary. PayScale's salary survey data provides insight into many career salaries, including Average Starting Salaries, from Actuary Salaries to Zoologist Salaries. In any career, salaries are affected by a variety of factors. Your salary might be higher or lower than the average salary for your job depending on things like location, experience, special skills, education, etc. For this reason, it's important to be thorough when researching different career salaries. The more information you have on the salaries of certain jobs, the better equipped you'll be to negotiate the salary you deserve.

Average Starting Salaries

For those just entering the workforce, researching average starting salaries can be especially helpful. On average, starting salaries are lower than salaries for jobs requiring more experience. However, even at the beginning of a career, salaries will vary depending on job title, location and more. For example, Average Starting Salaries for Finance Jobs can vary widely depending on the specific position, and Average Starting Salaries for Physicians are heavily influenced by specialty and employment setting. To get a general view of average starting salaries for jobs in the U.S., take a look at the chart showing Career Salaries by Years Experience. According to that report, average starting salaries are around $42,000 for all people in all surveys. If that figure seems higher or lower than you expected, it's a good idea to narrow your research to starting salaries for jobs in your specific field.

Job Salaries and Cost of Living

On the surface, comparing the Average Salary for Jobs by City or Job Salaries by State might seem simple. We can see that New York and California tend to offer a higher average salary range for jobs than many other states. Of course, career salaries in New York City and Los Angeles may be higher than in other cities, but both cities also have a very high cost of living. If you're considering a move, be sure to use the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator to research both the Cost of Living and Salaries of Different Jobs in these and other cities. Other important factors to consider when comparing the salary for jobs in different locations are commute time and vacation benefits. Although often overlooked, these considerations can have a huge impact on quality of life. PayScale's data on Average Commute Time and Average Vacation Weeks by city reveal that New Yorkers may spend more time vacationing, but they also spend the most time commuting.

Negotiating Career Salaries

Whether you're looking for a pay raise or just want a fair starting salary, researching the salary for jobs in your field is the first step in preparing for a Salary Negotiation. For more information on using PayScale's salary survey data to negotiate a fair salary, check out the Ask Dr. Salary article, "Tips for Getting a Pay Raise: PayScale Salary Survey" in the PayScale Blogs section.