Keith Said:

When i graduate at 28 with typical university experience what kind of starting salary will i get?

We Answered:

Check the Occupational Outlook Handbook: it has estimated numbers through the next few years. I graduated in '06 with an English B.A. (Writing minor) and worked as a proofreader for a catalog company at $11 an hour. I moved on to an Editorial Assistant position that turned out to just be glorified data entry at $13 an hour. From there I worked office temp jobs that ranged from whatever Oregon minimum wage happened to be to $12 an hour. I'm a Development Associate now and I get $10.50 an hour, going up to $11 in a couple weeks. They're moving me into the grant writer position next year and I'll make $15-$17 an hour.

Guess that ought to give you some idea of wages, at least in Oregon; I'm not sure what to expect with journalism, but I know that the prospects here STINK! I rarely see journalism jobs and when I do, they're mostly in the sales department of a newspaper.

And I commiserate with you over the 21 year olds who make the same or more money. I'm 28 and I'm getting married next year and my little brother makes BANK working in road construction (he gets over $20 an hour!!) and he's 20!

Good luck!