How much did you make in your first job, and how much do you make now, and how many years of experience do you have. First job was $40K in 2008, and in 2021 I make $180K.

I'll just keep this bounded by my 28 years in the tech industry. First job was a support tech at $22k in 1994, moved from Oregon to NYC to get into my first SE role in 1996 at $55k (seemed like a big jump but it really wasn't with the dramatically increased COL in NYC). Next pivot was moving into my first SE leadership in 1998 at $80k, then a new startup and new SE leadership role in 1999 at $120k. 10 years later with same company I was at $189k. Started job and role hopping a bit more in the 2010's moving between a high of $540k and low of $195k. For the last few years and into 2022 I am averaging an OTE of $325k. All told I feel very fortunate and always appreciative of the opportunities I've been given considering I never completed a college degree. Gotta love this industry, it favors the bold and confident :-)

I'm excluding bonuses, which have always been at least 10 percent of my base salary. Have a BS in CS from a small university in the Florida panhandle (go Argos!). Moved to Dallas because job opportunities were scarce there and I had an opportunity to move for free. - Started at ~$66k in 2015 as a software developer at a Fortune 50 in Dallas, TX. - Got promoted to ~$80k somewhere around 2016-17 - Left, and found a job at a small company for $85k - Got several raises and promotions over 2-3 years to make $105k - Got a $20k raise a few months ago to $125k base I had planned early in my career to bounce around a lot, but haven't found that as necessary as I thought to keep my salary growing. I had thoughts of leaving my current company until the $20k raise. That large of a raise without a title change wouldn't typically happen at a big company like where I started my career. They have too much process around compensation and force rank their people across teams/departments. I've also received a couple non-yearly bonuses for specific project work that aren't accounted for here. They're rare, but they do happen. The company doesn't have to do that, but it's great that they do. I'm on the high-end of salary for my experience (~6-7 years) level in the area according to Glassdoor.

First job was in 2020 and I made $50k, now I make $90k

My first "real" job right out of college I started in June 2019 making 55k (hourly, ended up being closer to 65k with overtime for a full year 2020). 2021 I make 62k (hourly still), will be breaking 75k, with profit sharing this year closer to 85k. Reading through the comments I realized people should really normalize talking about their salaries, it gives others without an opportunity to know their worth and negotiate. Too many companies take advantage of good loyal employees who don't know better

My first job I made $88K. I am at my first job and now make $89.6K. Lol what is the point of these besides flexing and comparing?

First job was $27k (in NYC! 🤦) in 2008 and now salary is $155k. Product/UI/UX designer, about 6 years experience doing what I’m doing now.

Some real financial glow ups up here. Glad that were documenting the reality for those who didn’t start FAANG. 2015: $45k in banking 2021: $115k in insurance Both are Southern region in a medium metro

31k in 2011 210k now

2001: De-tasssling corn for a local farmer at like 12 years old - $20 a day after school. Anything to get that second phone line so my mom’s calls wouldn’t interrupt Very Important Business online. 2006: First job with a pay stub. Taco Bell @ $5.15/ hour. 2021: $300k in Austin, 8 YOE post college

First job out of college I made $219K in my first full year. I was in a technical sales position. That was 2012. Last year I made $230K TC In other words, once you account for inflation, I make less now. Don’t do product management kids. Do sales.

55k in 2009 300k in 2021

First job (late 1970s) - 11 years old and I made $30 per month delivering newspapers. I worked around 45 hours per month, so I made 0.66/hour. This is around $112/month or $1,344/year in 2021 dollars. Second job (1980s) - $3.35/hour answering calls in a contact center while I was going to college. This is around $20,700/year in 2021 dollars. After college (1990s) - $28,000/year as a software developer for mainframe. Client / server architecture was taking off so I grew skill set. This is around $55,300/year in 2021 dollars. Now - $130,000/year. I made eight career pivots over 40 years. My cost of living is low (ie I don’t live in an expensive area). I value living near family, benefits (PTO), company culture, work that makes the world a better place.

I cannot fathom making $200k++… good job people!

My first job was $34K in 2013, in 2021 I make $150K base + 20% bonus ($180K). But switched from nonprofit sector to IT consulting

Wow, y’all are some youngin’s… 🤔

2000-2001- 8$ an hour Denny’s cook 2001-2007- 20k-38k salaried Air Force 2007-2009- School 2010-2014 - 40k- 60k Data Analyst 2014- 2014 - 80k Consultant 2014- 2018 - 90k-110k SWE - SWE Lead 2018- Present - 165k with bonus

1st contract IT job out of college in 2002 - an overly generous $65k. After that brief contract, I couldn't find another job in the IT field and stumbled into working in the mortgage industry. 1st mortgage job in 2003 - $40,000 Last mortgage job in 2016 - $82,000 By then I'd saved enough to make a conscious decision to do what I wanted to do, knowing I'd be starting over. 1st IT job in 2017 after my years in the wilderness - $40K Current job - $65K I'm at the lower end of pay for people in my position, but the experience I'm gaining is invaluable. Once I put a year or so into this job, I should be in a decent position to negotiate a substantial raise.

30k in 2012 NYC, 180k in 2021 ATL.

I made $40k/yr at my first job in 2000. I make $320k/yr now.

First job in 2007 - $80k Now - $600k