College degrees and Wages

[disneysteve]

WEll that ones easy disney steve ,,,, The airlines and car plants ,,, with all the layoffs and cuts ,,,, and those are only two that come to mind,, I'm sure others can name more.

No flames. Just curiousity. Do the jobs that pay 25K/year with the airlines and car companies actually require a college degree?

 

[vhoffman]

My first degree was liberal arts with foreign language minor (Spanish, French, & German). I literally couldn't find a job washing dishes with that degree! I worked at a Jack in the Box just to pay my bills. I finally found a job in a hospital accounting department, for little more than minimum wage! No one grasped my situation -- they thought if I had a college degree, the bucks would flow, so, therefore, I must be rich? Especially since I was then single, without children, so I could blow all my money on myself. I finally went back and got a second bachelor's in accounting, then a MBA, but I'm still not "rich". With the bachelor's in accounting, the best I could do was $32000/year. I never went back to work after getting the MBA, its just a useless piece of paper on my wall. I reached a fork in the road where I could either pursue a career or children; due to my age and health I couldn't pursue both.

Basically, I bought the crap from high school guidance counselors to "follow your dream". When trying to decide a college major, starting salaries and cost-of-living were not even discussed. I was told such drivel as "...do what you enjoy, the money will follow" and "a college education is to broaden your horizons, not to earn a specific salary". Well, a college degree is a LOT of time and money and effort, not to be taken lightly. I can't go back and recoup those lost years, and indeed my career now is raising my children, which I say with pride. Fortunately, dh makes more than enough to support us, and I have a home business which brings in a tidy sum. However, I will NOT let my kids make the same mistakes I did. If you're going to college (which they WILL), do it right. Study a major that at least has an application, and do look at salaries, work conditions, etc. DD says she wants to be a veterinarian, due to her love of animals. Well, according to a recent MONEY magazine article, the money vets make just isn't adequate for what they go through to get there. She could make just as much or more in something that doesn't require so much school (time on her part and money on our part), plus, once we're through putting her through vet school how does she start a practice? We will be entering retirement then and won't have the money to help her launch a practice, and she certainly wouldn't want to go into debt to start a practice with student loans, etc.

My advice to anyone considering a college education, go for it, but do it with eyes wide open! Get real!

 

[momrek06]

WOW 25K a year with a college degree....It cost DH & I each year my oldest DS (graduated 2004) year 1, 30,000, year 2, 31,500, year 3, 33,000, year 4, 33,500!!!!!

I just cannot imagine these kids today graduating college and paying more for their actual college PER YEAR, than they are making PER YEAR....it really amazes me. It is scary out there today to try and work and make a decent living.

My DS is making $52,000 a year and basically complains he has NO money. He is paying off his college loans, car payment, car insurance, gas, health club, cell-phone, NO RENT, (lives at his Gram's house while she is away Sept-April) BUT pays all the utilities while at Gram's from oil, electricity, house-phone. He moves back with us for May-Aug and saves money that way. He does have a DGF and they do go to dinner and movies. He shops for everything INCLUDING underwear at Banana Republic of which I told him "get to Target for your underwear"!

Like DisneySteve ask: Are there jobs out there really that pay LESS than 25K for a 4 year college degree....Hhmmmm

 

[JuneChickie]

I don't know about starting off under 25 grand right out of college ,, thats a good question too ,,,,, ANyone experience that ?

 

[pearlieq]

This is getting way off topic and I think you are doing it on purpose.
I give up ,,,

Huh? This thread has been about as OT as it gets.

Sorry you aren't getting the answer you wanted, but that's no reason to get upset.

 

[Pigeon]

A college degree is no guarantee of anything, income included. However, statistically speaking, college grads earn a great deal more than non-college grads. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/004214.html

 

[DVCLiz]

This is certainly a bizarre thread. I thought I read that the OP and her spouse combined made less than 50K a year after years of working, and they each had a college degree. I find that very hard to believe. If true, it's just a matter of making choices that limited their opportunities. Either they chose obscure fields or locations that had little job opportunity (but perhaps other intangible benefits.)

Bottom line - I can't imagaine any two people combined who make less than 50K combined with college degrees, unless they aren't working in their fields or put a geographical obstacle in their way. Either that, or much of the college degree just didn't take, because that wouldn't be a choice many educated peoeple would really make.

Just my opinion...

 

[momrek06]

A college degree is no guarantee of anything, income included. However, statistically speaking, college grads earn a great deal more than non-college grads. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/004214.html

GOOD ARTICLE, PIGEON: That being said #2 DS is a sophomore in college. Costing us as much as DS#1! DS#2 is majoring in ART HISTORY minor Political Science....

I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HE WILL DO WITH ART HISTORY....

He is spending the summer on the Isle of Crete(Greece) doing excavations. College was given grant money and he was selected (along with others) to go. He said they will dig for POTTERY. Interesting? Maybe he could do that upon graduation from this very $$$$ private Catholic college here in the Northeast and then he could sell his POTTERY findings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY....DS has informed me that "you have issues, mom"

BUT seriously, DS what will YOU do???

 

[Helene]

I guess I should rephrase the question ,,,

Anyone gone to college,,, got the degree ,, ,, and now after 10 plus years in the
working world making less than 50 thousand ???????

Yes, me. As a matter of fact, I have a Master's Degreee in Social Work with 15 years experience and basicallly average in the mid-$40's.

Unfortunately, I picked a field that is not heavily rewarded in a financial sense. But I do get alot of satisfaction from what I do and now that I've opened a private practice, it does allow for alot of flexibility.

Helene

 

[momx2]

I guess I should rephrase the question ,,,

Anyone gone to college,,, got the degree ,, ,, and now after 10 plus years in the
working world making less than 50 thousand ???????

Yes, my DH (45) has been employed by the same place for 15+ and makes anywhere from $31K to $42K per year depending on his commissions.

 

[taximomfor4]

I guess I should rephrase the question ,,,

Anyone gone to college,,, got the degree ,, ,, and now after 10 plus years in the
working world making less than 50 thousand ???????

Yes, DH is a high school teacher with 11 yrs in, and makes under $50k still.

 

[MarySB]

I'm a teacher M.Ed. degree, 27 years of experience. Just made the $50000 mark this year. It triggered a State requirement that anyone who makes $50000+ per year must make complete financial disclosures, including info re spouse, children, parents, and inlaws, the same that is required of those in public office. Kinda makes me wish I made $49999.99

 

[disneysteve]

It triggered a State requirement that anyone who makes $50000+ per year must make complete financial disclosures, including info re spouse, children, parents, and inlaws, the same that is required of those in public office.

That is bizarre! Why does your job give anyone the right to the financial info of your parents and inlaws, or your spouse and children for that matter? What is the intent of that law?

 

[Philadisney]

Do you or anyone you know that has a gone to college and finished
with a degree make 50 thousand or less ? **********
.....I know several people in "store" management that only make 30 to 45 thousand a year. All have college degrees in "business" mgnt. and yes
I'm sure there are others who make way more. But the point is
there are people with degrees who make less than 50 thou. a year.

WOW. i have a bachelor of science and i would LOVE to make 50 thou a year. i make about half that. far less than someone in store management apparantly!!!

i have only been out of college a couple years. everyone says "be patient, you'll make more eventually" i am moving in june becos my paycheck is so small i can no longer afford my teeny 1-bedroom apartment. i have friends who graduated last year with degrees in business & computer science who make tons more than i do. guess i picked the wrong career path!

and i bet you thought television production was a glamorous profession, didn't you!

 

[Philadisney]

I guess I should rephrase the question ,,,

Anyone gone to college,,, got the degree ,, ,, and now after 10 plus years in the
working world making less than 50 thousand ???????

aha. well, clearly i didn't read the rest of the thread before posting! oh well.
i always find it interesting what people in other professions make.

 

[PoohHappens]

Nurse chiming in here.....depending on where you live in the country this is very possible, I do not work full time but if I did I would make just over 50 and I make a mid to high range hourly for nursing.

 

[deide71]

Nurse chiming in here.....depending on where you live in the country this is very possible, I do not work full time but if I did I would make just over 50 and I make a mid to high range hourly for nursing.

I think you need to move . I work at a hospital in Minneapolis. The hourly wage for nurses @ our facility starts at 26.00/hr, and tops out at 39.00/hr. I know nurses that make over $100k/yr with overtime and bonuses.


The hours can kinda stink though.

 

[momrek06]

I think you need to move . I work at a hospital in Minneapolis. The hourly wage for nurses @ our facility starts at 26.00/hr, and tops out at 39.00/hr. I know nurses that make over $100k/yr with overtime and bonuses.


The hours can kinda stink though.

MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST: My girlfriend's daughter is a Occupational Therapist with an Associates degree and she is starting at
$25.00ph.

 

[fac]

It depends on the industry and the regions.

In 1996, I managed a team in financial and hired people fresh out of college for 60k. I had also hired someone with a Ph. D in Math and paid him 55k. At year end, when I told him he would get 25k bonus. He told me that he worked in the wrong industry previously. He had been getting 35k teaching in a county college.

 

[maleficent1959]

GOOD ARTICLE, PIGEON: That being said #2 DS is a sophomore in college. Costing us as much as DS#1! DS#2 is majoring in ART HISTORY minor Political Science....

I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HE WILL DO WITH ART HISTORY....

He is spending the summer on the Isle of Crete(Greece) doing excavations. College was given grant money and he was selected (along with others) to go. He said they will dig for POTTERY. Interesting? Maybe he could do that upon graduation from this very $$$$ private Catholic college here in the Northeast and then he could sell his POTTERY findings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY....DS has informed me that "you have issues, mom"

BUT seriously, DS what will YOU do???

From Career Services at Rutgers:

"Some students want to pursue careers as curators or archivists at the many museums and galleries across the country. Others, knowing they have an eye for art and design, but lacking the interest in pursuing a career as an artist, use art history to hone their intellectual abilities in art for careers in media, advertising, publishing, fashion or design. Another path for historians is art therapy, working with handicapped or disabled people. There is a trend toward providing additional training and certification for this specialty. Others move into careers in business, government and other non-profit organizations."

There is a bigger list of potential careers and employers, including government agencies, as well as jobs recent Rutgers art history graduates have gotten at the site. There's also a similarly huge list for anthropology if he discovers that he likes "digging for pottery" in Crete.