Starting Salary?

I am finishing my Master's Degree and I have been interviewing at a privately held trading company. It is going well but I will be providing social science research to the CEO, not trading. No amount of research has given me any real indication of what the starting salary should be, but the HR rep keeps telling me that since this is the finance sector, "we will pay you more than anyone else". What does that even me? Anyone know what salary I should expect? Where should my negotiating start?

8 Comments
 

Lol, out of all the people I know who graduated with social science degrees, I believe the highest salary is about 38,000. At least you know it'll be more than that. In all seriousness though, I think you can expect at least 70K all in for your first year.

-MBP
 

hhhmmmm which may mean I need to start negotiations at like 90k. Funny how when you enter the social sciences we never talk about negotiating for salaries because we never expect to make anything.

 

I think 90 is very ambitious tbh. You need to be able to justify why you're worth it, and let's face it, people with an MA in soc can't make that case as easily. I mean there are MFE programs that have an average starting salary of 90K. I think asking for high 70s is the most you should do. You don't want to come off as greedy. It's better to start with something lower, bust your ass, and show them that you deserve a big bonus and a big raise afterward.

-MBP
 

Agree with the above, especially mbp. Work to prove yourself and look for more after.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

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