[USER]

Our recent college graduate has secured his first job offer in Electrical Engineering, with a salary range spanning 65k-120k.

I found the considerable variance in the offered compensation surprising.

When asked about his salary expectations on the spot, he cited 90k, taking into account that it’s his first job.

The employer then presented an offer of 80k, accompanied by a 10% salary increase upon completion of a course and certification.

Do college graduates usually negotiate their first job offers?

Based on my industry experience, negotiating every offer was standard practice.

[Cage]

It’s always wise to negotiate to an extent, but fresh grads don’t have much to bargain with. Depending on where you live, 80k isn’t bad at all for an entry-level role.

Does your grad have any other offers?

[Bradley]

I attempted to twice and ended up accepting because I thought I would like what it was.

I also saw someone saying that’s a red flag.. I am currently looking to hire and I would not pass on a new grad attempting to negotiate.

Because everyone knows the company will never come out at 100% of what they are willing to actually pay for the position.

[Kelli]

This seems like a negotiation. Your son put out a number and then they countered. I would say that’s negotiating.

I guess you are saying should he counter back somewhere in between or remain firm with $90k.

It seems to me that unless he has a great deal of experience already through internships, prestigious university degree, and the job could be in many locations but they want him in a high cost of living area, that this is a nice offer.

[Andrea]

Counter with 85K and then take what they offer. 80K isn’t a bad starting salary but it’s always good to counter in case they’re willing to go up a bit.

[Angela]

I’m just trying to figure out who is getting paid at $65K if a college grad is not considered the low man on the totem pole.

Sounds like a nice salary for a brand new grad and certainly well above the low end of the pay scale.

[Rachel]

I don’t think it hurts to ask if there is flexibility in the starting salary but this seems pretty inline and actually more generous than I would expect based on the range you posted.

Unless he has other offers or very unique qualifications he doesn’t have much leverage for negotiating.

[Charlotte]

There were at least 2 ChooseFI episodes about salary negotiations. I believe suggestions were to not be the first one to throw out a number, and counter the first offer with a 10% increase.

That’s what our new grad did.

She also found out that the people who did not negotiate (mostly women) were making less than those who did.

What’s the worst they can say? No? Even if they get a few thousand extra, it will increase their base going forward every year.

[Caitlin]

Will they pay for the course and certification? If yes that’s a good offer.

[Dita]

I do recruiting for my company and we put this statement on new college graduate offer letter “This offer is final and no salary negotiation will be entertained”

Most companies don’t entertain salary negotiations with college hires.

$80k for engineering starting salary is pretty on par with the market.

[Beth]

I have had 2 college graduates in the last few years. Son #1 countered for more PTO and company said no.

Son #2 countered for salary increase, they didn’t meet his ask but did offer $3000 more.

Both of their offers came while they were in their last month or two of school before graduating.

[Lauren]

The range is wide because that is the range for that job title – he needs room to grow his salary within that title as well.

At my org, my salary band is $111k-$175k, but more than 60% of employees are below $140k.

Most move to the next level and increase comp that way, but some folks stay at my current level for 10+ years by choice (its the last level where you can be a true individual contributor, you need to manage people or programs at the next level up).

There is also often a wide salary range due to geography, years experience, etc.

My salary band covers everyone in my level at all of our sites, in all career paths (professional, research, tech, etc).

So that range may be for all entry level positions at the company.
Overall, that is a good offer.

Ask for $85k, but if they say no, I would take it.

[John]

It varies. Some firms / organizations have to abide by wage transparency laws and that tends to make it fairly easy to determine what existing workers with similar backgrounds are making, though that is not common.

If the starting salary is given as a wide band and there are no obvious local adjustments for COL one can typically expect that such things are “baked in” to try to keep things fair…

There’s a bit of lesson here too — some firms simply have a bias toward “hostility” while others try to be more equitable.

The mix of folks who thrive under either condition says a fair bit about how long an initial hire should think about staying…

[Ben]

I attempted to negotiate my first offer after college, but it didn’t bear fruit.

I wasn’t going to push too hard though, since they were the first company to make an offer after almost two hundred applications.

[Kerri]

He can try to negotiate, but it sounds like he needs to study for and pass his licensure exam.

If he didn’t do many internships to get experience, etc. then this sounds like a fair deal.

They want to make sure he has some skin in the game to study for and pass the exam before he gets more money which is fair, especially if they’ll pay for the class.

[Caro]

As an engineering grad that sounds like a good offer. Yes, there is some wiggle room but not as much for negotiation as someone with on the job experience but if he has any internship or relevant work he can try to push back.

But based on the fact he’s already not at the bottom of the $ band I would say they’ve given him a solid starting offer.

I doubt there is much wiggle room on that offer but it never hurts to try.

Could negotiate for sign on bonus (usually comes with a 2 year commitment though) or relocation money.

But I wouldn’t feel bad about accepting that personally.

[Nancy]

88k after he proves the work either the next certificate as they asked, which is almost what he asked for.

There’s a lot of layoffs going on and a tighter job market.

Sure, looks good to me.

[Joyce]

The job landscape for current graduates is VERY DIFFERENT from a few years ago. Unless this offer is for a VHCOL place (NYC, SanFran, or LA). Take the offer.

Take the course to get the bump.

Be a great employee & consider job hopping in 24 months if the job is not perfect.

Too many grads from last year are still trying to find something let alone the next batch about to graduate.

– mom to a 2025 graduate who has worked for same company for 5 summers in progressive jobs—company now has a hiring freeze & he is starting from scratch.

[Nicole]

Sounds really good for my area, my company probably offer 75k or less but a lot of our younger engineers move on once they get experience.

[Stacey]

Absolutely negotiate. Not a lot since hes a new grad but with that offer id ask for $85 and assume they will give him at least half of that.

[Damaso]

when my kids were offered their first career job (CPA and daughter big 4 consulting firm), I told them it was a privilege to be offered a job and to accept it and be grateful for being given the opportunity.

I told them to go in and show their value to the company.

After that then start playing hard ball. This is just my opinion.

Good luck!!!

[Char]

My first job in my second career, I negotiated. I asked for the middle range but the ranges for us weren’t as wide.

I’d counter for them adding a bit extra and covering the education/certification if they haven’t offered that already. You can politely ask without causing offense IMHO.

I will say, I’d caution pushing back too much though as there is this backlash towards new grads asking for more given they have minimal experience.

I personally enjoyed having new grads as you can train them up to be a good fit rather than someone who has more experience but is unwilling to adapt but to each their own.

[Floren]

I’ve hired scientists and engineers. What is happening here is quite usual. They are offering something a little lower than what he asks.

If you say you need a couple of days to think about it and then request 5-10k more, it’s quite likely he’ll get them.

At the very least, politely ask for it.

No one reasonable would move on to another applicant just for asking (not demanding). Hiring is a PIA and if they like your son, they’d want it done.

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