Can we talk about how unrealistic these salary expectations for recent grads have become? Gen Z needs to get their heads on right. They come in with no real experience, thinking they should be earning $50k to $75k a year. These kids should be happy if they earn $35k or $40k for their first job.

Times have changed - I see a lot of recent grads making $60-$70k starting salary

No one can survive on 35k anymore - I barely could in 2017. YOU need to get your head on straight.

With the cost of living, I think $50-$75k is reasonable for entry level with a college degree. My first HR job with 0 HR experience was $45k.

I have to agree with Allstate 1. Times have changed immensely since we graduated college. People are coming out of college making 50–75k. It really isn't that unrealistic.

How will they pay their rent, student loans, afford healthcare? You don't expect zero work effort from them, do you? How are you in HR & don't respect pay equity? I suppose you're equally comfortable with all forms of discrimination, the others should just be glad to have a job?

It's not the 70's anymore get your head out of where the sun don't shine. Inflation alone means 50k is a tough sell even in cheaper metro areas.

You are so wrong. I cannot believe you just said that one should be happy with entry level / minimum wage pay. It’s a shame HR has “professionals” like you. Best of luck trying to retain your workforce. You’re going to have turnover to the likes no one has ever seen before.

All depends on job and location. Most of our entry level jobs are about $50k.

These young adults are smarter beyond their years age is just a number if they can do the job they can earn the pay.

Those salaries are harder to live by.

This is a tough thread to read. I am a millenial and have yet to secure at-level employment. I was rated internally by my previous employer for Senior Manager roles (base $90k) almost 3 years ago.

I get a recruiter in my linkedin once a week for an HR role paying around $100.

Nothing’s panned out yet, and now I’m a single income family making $56k a year.

What's difficult with this comment is the pay disparity across the nation. Where I'm at salaries for HR vary anwhere from 45k-200k. It's absolutely crazy.

Everyone deserves to make enough to cover their cost of living, even new grads. 40k is starvation wages.

I can't imagine asking a new grad to take a salary of $35-$40K. I was making $40K as a new grad in 2000. In those 20 years+ I've seen stats showing the average cost of college tuition rose 60% with room and board increasing almost 40%.

The average rent for a one bedroom apartment is $1200. The average cheeseburger w/ fries is $12-18. Milk is $4-6 per gallon. Eggs are $6-9 per carton. Gas is $4-6 per gallon. Taxes are higher. Parking fees are higher. Utilities are higher. Student debt is higher. Going to the doctor is higher. A job's salary should be higher.

A single person making under $30 per hour in most places is still struggling to make it work. If you want to be in a real business that thrives you have to pay people enough to live or you're going to have a bunch of miserable employees who are always looking for something better than your company.

AND if you're thinking they are asking for too much based on what you're paid then don't expect less of them. Expect more for you.

Entitlement is the key here unfortunately

Complexly agree, unfortunately it is the universities that are pushing unrealistic compensation. $35k to $40k for their first job is not out of the question.