Salary Data

(Back to Cover Letter Homepage)

It is important to be informed of the salary range that is suitable for your experience and ability as well as your career field and industry. Even if salary is not negotiable, as in the case of many entry-level jobs, you want to be familiar with the salary range for your chosen profession and the increases you can expect as you move up the career ladder. Also, you should be aware of how the cost of living in different areas of the country will impact your income. Remember, making 40K in Salisbury, MD is a lot different than making 40K in New York City!

For professional advice on how to discuss salary with an employer, visit with a UCS Counselor during walk-in hours or make an appointment.

Sources for Researching Salaries:
NACE
Average Yearly Salary Offers for Bachelor's Degree Candidates. Compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) from the Fall 2005 Salary Survey.
Salisbury University First Destination Survey
From this survey view what graduating students have done with their degree.  Select the graduating year and table #2 Salary Statistics by Major.  This table will tell you the the average salary by major of SU graduates.
The Salary Calculator
This site lets you compare salaries by cities.
Salary.com
Search salary by majors.
Job Search Compensation Center
Salary information, salary surveys, negotiation strategies, salary tools, and more resources to research how much you should be paid.
*Salary Comparison-In the middle of the page from the NY Times.
SalaryExpert.com
Free salary calculator available
Salary Information (from HotJobs.com)
Free, personalized salary estimates
JobStar.org
Job search site with an excellent salary/compensation section. Links to over 300 salary surveys.
*US Department of Labor Statistics
*U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook
*America's Career InfoNet
Site maintained by the US Dept of Labor, includes information on over 460 occupations. Also includes market outlook and job listings. 

Cost Of Living Calculators:
*BankRate.com-Very, very detailed.
CityRating.com-Quick but not as much information as the others.
*CNN Money.com-Very easy to use.  Compare two cities.
*Sperlings Best Places-Gives you a lot of detail on housing, food, etc.

Apartments/Rent:
*Apartments.com-Great site. Prices listed.
ForRent.com-Search by city.  No prices.
Move.com-Some listings.