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A lot of people in VHCOL start out at or over 100k. This question is meaningless unless you ask what geography people are based on. What are you actually trying to figure out here?
Totally agree that geography is needed here.
To your second point though, $100k in Des Moines will let you live like a king. But in a bigger midwest city (Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul), $100k is not even close to a fortune. It’s comfortable, but not “do what you want all the time” money by any means.
You have to go to the outer ring suburbs or rural parts of the midwest for $100k to be a fortune.
Took me almost 6 years. Went from $59k base to $74k in 3 years at my first job. Switched and went from $85k to $98k in 2.5 years. Then switched again to get to $160k and haven’t left.
Studied math and live in the Midwest for reference.
1 year
For base
About 8 years out of undergrad I hit that (in the Army, not in consulting)
Every offer/job post-military has been well above that thankfully.
15 years out of undergraduate, I’m close but not quite there yet.
Right out of undergrad, before I joined consulting
immediately out of undergrad
I think geography and year you graduated would be helpful context.
5 years - from graduating but started in data analytics in year 3
1. 80
2. 80
3. 90
4. 96
5. 110 + bonus
6. 120 + bonus
7. 150 + bonus
2 years out of undergrad
Consulting. Started as a generalist and slowly became data analytics / automation / ETL SME(ish). Came out with ~$65k TC in 2020, promoted 2022 with a ~25% raise along with incremental raises along the way brought my TC to ~$110k.
base + bonus (cash), 1.5 years probably.
1 year from UG
A year and a half out of undergrad
Damn 4 years. From uG. Started at 45k
2 years from ug and after pandemic haven't seen 100k for almost 3 years
Three years from MBA (non top school)
Three years in ans haven’t gotten to it. Started at 60k on HCOL
2 years out of school. Now at 150k with 4 yoe.
4 years
2 years