Post-Graduate Salary: Is Gen Z Expecting Too Much?

Today’s college graduates expect to receive a starting salary at their first job that’s nearly double the actual average entry-level salary

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These unrealistic expectations extend to everything from their mid-career prospects to the financial value of their degree.

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Those are some of the takeaways from a recent survey conducted by Real Estate Witch, which gathered responses from 1,000 undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

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A Strong Job Market May Skew Expectations

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Today’s job market is booming. Department of Labor data shows job openings are historically high as the nation continues to feel the effects of the Great Resignation.

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Wages, too, are rapidly increasing. Labor statistics show wages have shot up by 4.5% since December 2020, the largest spike in 40 years.

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A Hot Job Market Has Overheated Expectations

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Part of the explanation could be the ease with which many college graduates are getting jobs.

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As they enter a job market with many openings, recruiters have been forced to compete for candidates, often sweetening offers with enhanced benefits or salary bumps.

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Unrealistic Expectations Varied Wildly by Major, Not by Gender

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