Salary Survey Report for All People in All Surveys

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. But how to ensure that we are being paid well for the work we do? Researching the average salary for various jobs is one way to find out if your salary measures up to the average American salary for your job. PayScale's salary survey data provides insight into many career salaries, including average starting salaries, from Actuarial Career 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 the average salary for various jobs. The more information you have on various career salaries, the better equipped you'll be to ask for 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 employment setting. Let's dig down into average starting salaries of different jobs. Measuring Career Salaries by Years Experience shows average starting salaries of around $40,000 for all people in all surveys. If this calculation for average starting salaries seems higher or lower than you expected, it's a good idea to narrow your research to average starting salaries specific to your field. For example, Average Starting Salaries for Journalists are at the lower end of the spectrum for starting salaries, whereas Average Starting Salaries for Physicians are significantly higher. The average salary for various jobs will show as much variation.

Average Salary by Location

On the surface, comparing Average Salary by City or Average Salary by State may seem simple. We can see that New York and California top the charts for locations offering a higher average salary. Now you just have to decide which place best suits your style: East Coast or West Coast, right? This is where it gets a little more complicated. New York City and Los Angeles, the two cities in the number one spot for average salary, both have a very high cost of living. If you're considering a move, be sure to use PayScale's Cost of Living Calculator to find out just how far the average salary will go based on the cost of living in these cities. Other important factors include 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