174 Comments:
Depends on what you mean by "living decent." I make just under 35K and have no trouble supporting myself (i.e. don't need a roomie, or live in the ghetto, have money for going out, shopping, etc).
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 1:30 PM on April 14
Kiki,
What are you making now?
a comfortable salary really depends on your lifestyle. Are you a downtowner type that likes condos/apartments centrally located in downtown, or are you a neighborhood person? kids? pets?
Depending where you choose to live in the twin cities will dictate what you need to live comfortably. I think in most parts of the cities you can live comfortably for ~40k.
»» Submitted by baker. at 1:31 PM on April 14
It all depends on what the job is, with whom and whether I'm qualified. Could you please provide all the pertinents? I've been looking for a new gig myself!
»» Submitted by Opportunity Knox at 1:32 PM on April 14
I'd peg that kind of job at about $50,000, which is probably enough to live pretty comfortably if you don't have a lot of debt, dependents or a cocaine habit. You can rent a pretty decent place here for $900-$1,200, maybe even less.
»» Submitted by Andre at 1:36 PM on April 14
I've never lived in NYC, but I would wager if the job is comparable to your job in NYC, it'll pay a little less but the money will go further.
»» Submitted by »»» kurtis at 1:38 PM on April 14
I'd wager at least half of what you expect in the NYC area, stuff is just cheaper here. I'd agree that ~$40-50k is 'exceedingly comfortable' for most single people without major debt. Lots of people live on far less in the region and make it just fine.
»» Submitted by Scott at 1:44 PM on April 14
Your clothing budget will drop through the floor living in MSP.
Prada? Is that a pastry filled with minced meat and cheese?
Moschino? You can get Mossimo at Target.
Valentino? Isn't that in February?
»» Submitted by Mpls Simpleton at 1:47 PM on April 14
or a cocaine habit
So, that's my problem! Damnit!
It's true.
A small book publisher can pay $40-50k in MN?!!?
»» Submitted by Site at 1:52 PM on April 14
I agree with Scott.
I recently considered a move to NJ/NYC for a job. What I was offered was 60% more that I was making at that time. After investigating the area and costs I calculated that I would of needed to at least double my salary to maintain my present standard of living. So I turned them down for that reason and a few others.
Living costs here are low. Daily expenses like food (groceries or dining out), clothing, just getting around, etc are all much lower here than in NYC.
»» Submitted by regexp at 2:00 PM on April 14
Site: If she's senior enough it seems plausible.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:02 PM on April 14
and that's just for small book publishing. I hear they pay even more if you publish large books.
»» Submitted by grote at 2:03 PM on April 14
The Elephant Folio market is exploding.
maybe I'm outta touch here, but aren't college grads starting salaries now around 50K. If you have 5 years experience you should be at least in the 70's.
»» Submitted by Tj at 2:07 PM on April 14
maybe I'm outta touch here, but aren't college grads starting salaries now around 50K. If you have 5 years experience you should be at least in the 70's.
Hah. Definitely out of touch. Except for a small number of fields, the average starting salary out of college is probably still in the low to mid 20s.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 2:10 PM on April 14
Is she single?
»» Submitted by kevin at 2:14 PM on April 14
True that, mnblrmkr!
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 2:16 PM on April 14
Frankly, if I get 70K when I graduate with my MBA, I'll run naked through the streets in shock.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 2:18 PM on April 14
Oh, you can easily make 70k running naked through the streets.
I've had a couple of professional jobs in book publishing locally (mid-sized and large companies), and they were NOT well-paying.
Book publishing is one of those areas where there is a lot of competition for certain positions (copywriters, mar-comm, editors, acquisitions) among the English , Marketing and Communications majors, and the employers don't have to pay well to get a willing stream of worker bees because it sounds sort of glamourous...at least jobs in the more creative areas. But I think it's that way in NYC, as well.
So if they're paying copywriters who've been working there 8 years less than $40K, I don't know what they're paying managers.
»» Submitted by Tib at 2:21 PM on April 14
I make $18k and live like a king!
Woo-hoo Minneacheapolis!
$50k for a recent college grad? Is that a joke.
Certain engineerings will give you that, but most degrees will pay much lower.
I mean what justifies giving that kind of $$$ to a English, Business, sociology, kiniseology, etc. major. Pretty much 80% of liberal arts degrees are worthless without grad school.
Accounts start at mid-forties.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 2:30 PM on April 14
Thanks for all the advice. I'm currently making 78K which affords me a decent life and rent in manhattan. I'd love to have more space though, and own my own home. I like the idea of living in Minneapolis, downtown or Uptown maybe, and although I like to buy myself nice things I'm pretty good at saving too (I only have one pair of Prada flats -- thanks very much, Mpls Simpleton).
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 2:32 PM on April 14
$50k for a recent college grad? Is that a joke.
No, it is not. And it's not just engineering. And it happens in the 612.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:33 PM on April 14
Where, Bixby?
I'm a recent grad with two lib arts degrees and I'm making under $25k, so doubling my income would be, well let's just say more than welcome.
»» Submitted by yeah right at 2:38 PM on April 14
It depends on the economy. Before the dotcom crash, I was paying C++ programmers $80k to start right out of college back in 1999. In fact, I used to hire them before they graduated to beat out the competition. It was quite the sight ... 21 year old kids driving to wortk in new beemers.
»» Submitted by »»» mazasapa at 2:39 PM on April 14
Here are some links that may or may not be useful and accurate:
Editor in Mpls salary range: http://tinyurl.com/4fbbnw
Senior editor in Mpls salary range: http://tinyurl.com/48uqsx
NYC/Mpls Cost of Living Comparison: http://tinyurl.com/2q9j9y
»» Submitted by »»» kurtis at 2:40 PM on April 14
Son of a BITCH.
kurits...that would be more effective if you didn't have your tinyurl exposed for the world to see.
»» Submitted by grote at 2:42 PM on April 14
- Consulting
- Banking
- Biotech
- Finance that is not banking
I know people in three of these areas who have liberal arts degrees and make at/near/above $50k . The Biotech person was a double major and may have received one major in the engineering school.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:43 PM on April 14
Did what I think happened just happen?
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:45 PM on April 14
Yep.
wait, what just happened?
»» Submitted by yeah right at 2:47 PM on April 14
Kurtis linked to some very useful statistics.
Average starting salaries in biotech are not $50k. The typical college grad in biotech starts out as a research assistant in a lab. $20-25k.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 2:47 PM on April 14
Trusting a tinyurl on Mnspeak is like trusting a hooker with your wallet.
»» Submitted by »»» JACC at 2:49 PM on April 14
I never said that it was average, I said that it does happen and I know of people who made that much out of college. So, yes, that might be an average but there are outliers making at/near/above 50k.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:50 PM on April 14
Kurtis:
Two scoops of FAIL.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:51 PM on April 14
Could someone explain why the whole Rick Rolled thing is even funny.
I don't get it.
»» Submitted by Saloth Sar at 2:53 PM on April 14
78 large in the twin cities (for a single person like me) is like being a millionaire. I don't even know what I'd do with that much money.
»» Submitted by keviniskindacrampedinthebowels at 2:54 PM on April 14
You indicated that person (may have) had an engineering major. I'd say that's more indicative of the engineering, and not the biotech.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 2:54 PM on April 14
Good gawd, if I were male, there'd be hookers all over the Twin Cities with my wallets.
I heart links. I don't even really read what it says, as long as I can click on it. The Happy Clicker. There ya' go - say that 5x's fast.
»» Submitted by »»» Cat at 2:54 PM on April 14
78k in nyc=what, 60k in minneapolis?
just a guess.
IMO, the worst thing liberal arts majors can do is to hold out for the perfect job. Your education means less the longer you go without working a full time job. I have several firends who bitch and moan about not being able to find a job exactly in their fields, not realizing they are becoming more and more irrelevant in the job market as time goes on.
If you 'follow your heart' and pick a major in an obscure field, this doen't mean your only chance at a somewhat relevant job is with the Association for Obscure Field Seekers. (AFOFS)
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 2:55 PM on April 14
I would probably kill to earn that much money in a year... it's not even fathomable.
»» Submitted by yeah right at 2:55 PM on April 14
Okay, he works in biotech. I know for a fact he does and I'm not naming the company. What I am not sure about is what "school" one of his majors came from within his university.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:56 PM on April 14
I heart links. I don't even really read what it says, as long as I can click on it. The Happy Clicker. There ya' go - say that 5x's fast.
You're CBS/WCCO's new best friend.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 2:58 PM on April 14
OK, baker, then what would you suggest a lib arts recent grad do?
I have a job that I can't afford and am thinking about quitting to go back to waiting tables - I know I'd earn more money doing that.
»» Submitted by yeah right at 3:00 PM on April 14
Great links, Kurtis. According to that monster salary thing, my salary is bang on for the median for my position in the far south metro. I'll be damned. I was also surprised at the editor pay. Hell, if I could guarantee a salary like that I'd consider pursuing that field. I'm good at telling people they no writed it good and shit.
»» Submitted by »»» wtfmn at 3:01 PM on April 14
I don't know what a lib arts major who has already graduated should do but I took two years off from school and worked and did internships, which ended up saving me from having to freak out about what I'd do after graduation. Best decision that I never made.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 3:03 PM on April 14
78k may sound like a lot for minneapolis, but honestly its not all that much in new york. my monthly living expenses are 2500, i dont own a car, or a my own apartment, and i live in less than 500 square feet.
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 3:03 PM on April 14
You just described exactly the reason I've never seriously considered living in New York.
My reason is Cloverfield.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 3:07 PM on April 14
Well, yes, Cloverfield too. I felt that didn't need saying.
Okay, he works in biotech. I know for a fact he does and I'm not naming the company. What I am not sure about is what "school" one of his majors came from within his university.
I'm just saying he's an extreme outlier, like you said. And it probably is some form of engineering field.
I work at a large biotech company, and I can't think of a single college degree entry level classification here that would pay more than $25k. If you majored in molecular biology, biochemistry, protein chemistry, those are all going to start in the low to mid 20s.
One other exception I just thought of would be someone in bioinformatics. They might start a little higher. Probably not $50k, though, and entry level bioinformatic positions are pretty rare in private industry. Most of them would probably find a job at a university or, more likely, go straight to grad school.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:09 PM on April 14
that sounds horrible, kiki.
here in mpls, you can cut those costs to ~1700, and have a big old house, a car, your own yard, and no piles of garbage to walk through on your way to work. It would seem weird taking a pay cut to move anywhere, though...
what field, 'yeah right'?
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:09 PM on April 14
Well 2500/month will get you a lot more than 500sqft in Minneapolis. Probably three or four times that? You would probably need to buy a car though.
»» Submitted by kevin at 3:09 PM on April 14
78k may sound like a lot for minneapolis, but honestly its not all that much in new york. my monthly living expenses are 2500, i dont own a car, or a my own apartment, and i live in less than 500 square feet.
I love irony.
»» Submitted by »»» PwrGeek at 3:10 PM on April 14
Damn it. I knew I should have pursued my love of bioinformatics. My father told me there was no future in gene expression.
kiki's buying a round of drinks at the next MNSpeak gathering when she gets here if she gets 60K at the new job.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:11 PM on April 14
i can't believe engineer salaries. i had a friend with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering, making ~80k in his first job for ecolab.'
dude.
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:11 PM on April 14
My mother cried for 2 weeks when I told her I wasn't going to Med School...I do often wonder what it would be like to be in debt over 100K and making about 25K as a resident and working 60+ hours a week...all while being buried under paperwork and having my sprit crushed by the mighty HMO.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:20 PM on April 14
new york is pretty great too..dont get me wrong. i dont actually need a car here, i can walk to work, there are good restaurants, art museums and gallerys...alll that good stuff, but the twin cities has that too, right? just on a smaller scale, with more green space around? am i kidding myself?
if i can really live that well on the salaries you are all mentioning then i'll pay for open bar.
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 3:21 PM on April 14
I should add: Most of the people entry level jobs at the company I work for are filled with people planning to go to medical school or grad school. THey typically only work here for a couple of years at most.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:21 PM on April 14
Damn it. I knew I should have pursued my love of bioinformatics. My father told me there was no future in gene expression.
It's not too late max, proteonomics is going to be an exploding field. Even more so than genomics.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:25 PM on April 14
Re: Baker
Take a look at an Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering cirriculum and you will see why the starting pay is that much.
I had no fun in my undergrad in college. My liberal arts roomates were smoking weed while I was doing homework every night including weekends.
The cirriculum is a killer.
That said, the average starting for ME/EE is mid $50s
Woo-hoo.... Now for me to get out of grad school ASAP
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:25 PM on April 14
if i can really live that well on the salaries you are all mentioning then i'll pay for open bar.
I think you'll do just fine here, Kiki.
new york is pretty great too..dont get me wrong. i dont actually need a car here, i can walk to work, there are good restaurants, art museums and gallerys...alll that good stuff, but the twin cities has that too, right? just on a smaller scale, with more green space around? am i kidding myself?
Not really, except for the walking part, maybe. That seems to be a controversial issue around here.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:28 PM on April 14
I had no fun in my undergrad in college. My liberal arts roomates were smoking weed while I was doing homework every night including weekends.
Aren't you the one that was braggin about al lthe college drinking you did? Even to the point of leaping off a balcony at a house party to avoid the cops when it got busted? I believe there was a lot more "college kids gone wild" stuff you wrote about too.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:30 PM on April 14
I worked for a small, Minnesota-based publishing house right out of college. I was in publicity and it paid $25,000.
About four years ago they tried to get me to come back to run the publicity department. Offered $60,000.
Good luck. Publishing is a fun business.
»» Submitted by Todd at 3:31 PM on April 14
Well, I did party a little bit. But it is nothing compared to what others around me were doing. I would party one night a week tops, while other around me were doing 3-4 on average.
EE undergrad sucked the life out of me. My CLA and especially CARLSON friends were cruising. Engineering undergrad was very stressful.
Seriously, Carlson is pretty much going to high school all over. You learn business but it is super easy. I took a class there and the prof. let us retake a test after too many students received poor grades. They complained, so the prof thought that the test was "unfair"???
WTF? are they in pre-school?
Averaging 40/100 on engineering exams on the other hand was considered a good thing.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:34 PM on April 14
Entry-level jobs in book publishing in the TC's pay in the $20K-$25K range.
Finding a job that pays more than $40K will be a challenge at a small book publisher, but it's not impossible. It all depends on the type of books and their annual revenues.
Do you know their annual revenue? If it's less than $2M, you'd probably get an offer in the $40Ks. (The larger and corporate pubs pay more.).
»» Submitted by someone who knows at 3:34 PM on April 14
Kiki has to move here! Open bar! Crazy New Yorkers.
Kiki is my new best friend!
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:37 PM on April 14
Vlad, business school is fairly easy, but at the Masters level it's a lot of writing, common sense, and group work. Plus, if you've been in the working world for more than 2 years and watch the news fairly regularly, it's coast city.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:39 PM on April 14
i don't doubt that the engineering curriculum is hard, by any means. but hiring a college grad for 80 G's is pretty surprising.
That being said, he did design a damn fine foaming soap dispenser.
KIKI, there is definately an urban life here in the cities. A much smaller scale to be sure--to me it's like the perfect sized city--enough diversity to pave the way for great arts, culture, and restaurants, but the hometown small cozy midwestern feel. The best part, I can be out of here on a lake in 100 minutes. In a car.
Some complain that we don't cater to pedestrian traffic much here, which is true. The downtown is designed for visitors, not residents. there are places to live down there, but there are not the neighborhood delis/grocery stores like NYC has.
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:41 PM on April 14
Downtown Minneapolis is a urban catastrophe.
Kiki, I have lived in NYC for 7 months.
Forget about the good public transportation, and enjoying walking.
Get ready for driving to everything, nasty potholes, and lots of traffic.
If you are interested in biking, Mpls has a thriving biking community.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:44 PM on April 14
kiki, r u hot?
I can buy u a drink at belanote. I'll be wearing the salmon colored polo with the popped collas. Over 3 other shirts. With popped collas.
»» Submitted by random frat boi at 3:44 PM on April 14
if i can really live that well on the salaries you are all mentioning then i'll pay for open bar.
Now there's a first evar MNspeak gathering I can attend!
»» Submitted by kevin at 3:45 PM on April 14
The downtown is designed for visitors, not residents. there are places to live down there, but there are not the neighborhood delis/grocery stores like NYC has.
Though that is slowly changing. How much remains to be seen.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:45 PM on April 14
Elliot Park is meant for living! That's where I do my living!
if i can really live that well on the salaries you are all mentioning then i'll pay for open bar.
Now there's a first evar MNspeak gathering I can attend!
Any one get the feeling that kevin is living his own version of "Bright Lights, Big City"?
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:47 PM on April 14
I think Kiki needs to have drinks with Rex in NYC before she can enter into the MNSpeak inner circle(jerk).
»» Submitted by grote at 3:47 PM on April 14
I don't think Kevin sings, but I love that song.
Unless they tear down all of the condos that have been built in the last few years, my guess is you'll start to see more neighborhood stores crop up. Never like NYC, but we're a lot younger, c'mon.
»» Submitted by »»» Cat at 3:49 PM on April 14
Compared to New York, yes, the public transit system isn't good. However, within the urban core, the bus system is comprehensive. If you're deliberate about where you live (Whittier represent!), and if your job isn't located in some strange location, you'll have no problem living without a car.
Vlad raises good points, but he bristles with negative energy. You'll love it here.
»» Submitted by »»» MunsingW at 3:49 PM on April 14
kiki, disregard Vlado4, he's bitter.
There are sidewalks here. And buses. Right now the light rail is essentially a gimmick, but hopefully it will be expanding too. It's not that bad, if you do own a car. you will need a car though, if you want to escape the city once in a while, which is quite necessary in my opinion.
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:50 PM on April 14
and look how friendly we are here! did you expect 87+ comments to your little posting?
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:52 PM on April 14
Well in St. Paul we had tons of condo development and all these cool deli's and stores opened up. Oh wait, I was dreaming again. We got butkis.
The trick of course is to visit the TC's in May when things are blooming and lovely. The other trick is to not visit like, last week.
»» Submitted by Saloth Sar at 3:52 PM on April 14
interesting...well i'm totally up for getting a car, i just dont own one now, and i'm not the best driver.
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 3:53 PM on April 14
i'm not the best driver.
Then you'll feel right at home here. If you know how to merge, forget it, because it is useless knowledge in Minnesota.
and i'm not the best driver.
Oh, then you'll fit right in!
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:54 PM on April 14
Max oes me a coke...
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:54 PM on April 14
Elliot Park is meant for living! That's where I do my living!
Is that like how Virginia is for lovers?
Come to Camden. It's 5 houses for price of 1. That's where I do my living!
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 3:55 PM on April 14
we're great divers...er, drivers.
»» Submitted by grote at 3:55 PM on April 14
Kiki, If you make $60k here you should be fine. If you take the job, write back and let us know! That will definitely cause a thread about the following:
*Mpls v. St. Paul
*Public Transportation
*Skyways and why we should destroy them
*Why Minnesotans suck (starring crabby pants commenters who should just go away)
*Why MN is great (starring those who moved here and like it here)
*Bacon
*Weather
*Grocery stores
Aliecat, we have it in writing you will run naked through the streets, and we are going to hold you to it.
»» Submitted by jane_ at 3:55 PM on April 14
Jinx. Alie owes ME a Coke. I said it first.
call me paranoid, I don't trust the modereditor when it comes to the coke-worthiness of comment timing.
»» Submitted by grote at 3:58 PM on April 14
alie is naked?
link pls
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 3:58 PM on April 14
Frankly, if I get 70K when I graduate with my MBA, I'll run naked through the streets in shock.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 2:18 PM on April 14
»» Submitted by jane_ at 3:59 PM on April 14
I am not naked right now...but if I get a job out of grad school that pays me 70K or more right out the gate, I'm running wild, dudes.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 3:59 PM on April 14
2 cokes for me!
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 4:00 PM on April 14
no coke...pepsi.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:00 PM on April 14
surprisingly, happily, this has been pretty helpful.
i'll keep you posted about the job. i wasnt totally kidding about open bar, wine is probably like $4-6 a glass there, yes?
get ready, I may be badly driving in a neighborhood where some of you do your living soon.
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 4:02 PM on April 14
No hamburger. Cheeseburger!
interesting...well i'm totally up for getting a car, i just dont own one now, and i'm not the best driver.
»» Submitted by »»» Kiki at 4:03 PM on April 14
I am not naked right now...but if I get a job out of grad school that pays me 70K or more right out the gate, I'm running wild, dudes.
Nice! It'll be Minnesota's answer to the running of the bulls:
Running of the Aliecat!
Oh, and Kiki - if you start driving here - make sure that when you're driving on the freeway to stay in the left lane - then you'll really fit in.
»» Submitted by »»» Cat at 4:04 PM on April 14
I don't think Kevin sings, but I love that song.
Song? I was thinking of the Jay McInerney book (or the movie based on said book).
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 4:06 PM on April 14
*Mpls v. St. Paul
*Public Transportation
*Skyways and why we should destroy them
*Why Minnesotans suck (starring crabby pants commenters who should just go away)
*Why MN is great (starring those who moved here and like it here)
*Bacon
*Weather
*Grocery stores
Brings me back to one of my earlier comments were I preemptively answered the 21 arguments that would come up in any thread. Perhaps I should update that list. It's probably at 30 now with the bacon and everything. Although, I do recall racism was on their twice...
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:07 PM on April 14
Yeah, MN is a strange mixture of liberals and conservatives.
For example:
I am not naked right now...but if I get a job out of grad school that pays me 70K or more right out the gate, I'm running wild, dudes.
Careful, indecent exposure in MN can make you end up as a sex offender.
I may be bitter, but the transportation system here is mediocre, and the prospect of it getting better is rather shaky at the moment.
I recommend getting a bike (I bike 12 months a year to work).
Also I am entering a road bike race tomorrow if anyone wants to watch.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 4:09 PM on April 14
Ah, no Pepsi. Coke.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 4:09 PM on April 14
I'm rather surprised by the salary numbers being thrown around here for college grads. The cost of living in the twin cities isn't that low... Most college grads I know started in the 40-70k range in the twin cities. This would include engineering, business, and science. Even a recent grad with a BA in English started at 40k+ doing research for a radio show.
What are the salary expectations for a MBA grad from metro state? Is it near 70k? I wasn't able to find the numbers online. The salary expectations for a Carlson MBA grad are around 90k, with most national mags putting it at just over 100k (for the salary including signing bonus).
»» Submitted by mngrad at 4:11 PM on April 14
I'm rather surprised by the salary numbers being thrown around here for college grads. The cost of living in the twin cities isn't that low... Most college grads I know started in the 40-70k range in the twin cities. This would include engineering, business, and science. Even a recent grad with a BA in English started at 40k+ doing research for a radio show.
See, I'm not crazy.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:12 PM on April 14
Song? I was thinking of the Jay McInerney book (or the movie based on said book).
Oh, I know. Bright Lights, Big City gets its name from a famous blues song.
What are the salary expectations for a MBA grad from metro state? Is it near 70k?
I'm wondering that myself...I hope so, as I graduate in about 2 years from Metro.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 4:13 PM on April 14
Oh, and Kiki - if you start driving here - make sure that when you're driving on the freeway to stay in the left lane - then you'll really fit in.
Only if she's going 50.
»» Submitted by »»» PwrGeek at 4:15 PM on April 14
You guys remind me of all the people I went to school with.
Me: Man, I hope to make $50k one day
Carlson Unddergrad: I am gonna be making $200k four years out of college, that will come in hand for buying a Porsche
Me: This is an interesting technology to work
Carlson Undergrad: Yeah, you keep studying, one day you'll be making money for me. (saying this while he exits the room, going to a party, with a bottle of beer in his hand)
Everyone seems so greedy nowadays.
I live super well with $18k a year. Could I support a family with this? Obviously not. But for a single young guy, it is plenty.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 4:16 PM on April 14
Carlson grads need that money, as it costs a grip to go there. Fuck that.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 4:17 PM on April 14
vlad reminds me of a guy I don't like. every time he posts.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:18 PM on April 14
Any one get the feeling that kevin is living his own version of "Bright Lights, Big City"?
The Matchbox 20 song?
----------
I am the Official MNspeak Jinx Monitor, and as such I will rule here.
This is a tough case. The facts are that 1. Max and alie commented the same thing at the same time, 2. alie then recognized jinx w/out using the word jinx, 3. then max claimed jinx on the basis that his post showed up first (which it clearly did).
Custom and usage has been that a jinx reward belongs to the first person to declare jinx, not the first person to post the jinxed comment. However, in this case alie got a bit ahead of herself when declaring that max owes her a Coke and failed to use the word jinx in her declaration. Max then chimed in using the word jinx, but timestaps clearly show that his commetn came second.
This then raises the question of whether or not the word jinx must appear in the same comment as ______ owes me a coke, or some derivative there of. In this thread, the topic of happy hour has come up in the form of a potential open bar funded by a woman who might move here and make lots of money, 60 large is the estimate.
In normal happy hour discussions it would be conceivable for someone to raise the point that another owes him or her a Coke, or anything else one might typically find at a bar. In that case, alie's comment could be construed to mean that max should buy her a Coke at happy hour. But this is not a normal happy hour discussion, for as mentioned several times this would be an open bar, at which it is on its face silly to bring up the idea of someone paying off a Coke debt, because Cokes would presumably be free.
Therefore, even if she did not use the word jinx, it is reasonable to believe that alie's claim at 3:54 was related to said jinxable comments.
I find that even though she did not specifically use the word jinx, alie made the first claim to jinx. Max's comment of 3:56 is therefore mute. Max owes alie a Coke.
This brings the official tally of MNspeak jinx as follows:
Kevin owes Josie a Coke
Kevin owes Amber a Coke
Josie owes Ang a Coke
Cat owes Douglas a Coke
Max owes alie a Coke.
This comment becomes effective immediately.
»» Submitted by kevin at 4:19 PM on April 14
Even a recent grad with a BA in English started at 40k+ doing research for a radio show.
Must have been Public Radio. Commerical TV reporters are barely getting much over 40k when they start today.
Damn it. I should never have hired Kevin to track the jinxes.
That $5 I sent to Kevs was money well spent.
P.S. Max, I like Diet Coke.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 4:22 PM on April 14
i'll keep you posted about the job. i wasnt totally kidding about open bar, wine is probably like $4-6 a glass there, yes?
Wine? We've read about it, but I think it's still coastal. I heard we might get a wine shop (or is that shoppe?) by '09. But if you like canned beer, you've found the spot.
As for MNSpeak, if you should move here and if you should become a MNSpeaker, perhaps someone could introduce you:
That's Maz. He likes to...
And this is wayno. If you bike, you should be okay.
Ooh! And here's grote. Assuming you have thick skin and earmuffs, you'll love this guy!
etc..
»» Submitted by »»» nateek at 4:22 PM on April 14
Wayne could use a sugar momma, Kiki...you'll just have to put up with a lot of train talk...
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 4:25 PM on April 14
I'm a bit disappointed wayno hasn't chimed in on the salary discussion.
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 4:26 PM on April 14
jderusha: Must have been Public Radio. Commerical TV reporters are barely getting much over 40k when they start today.
Spot on. So, I guess, that's somewhat of a special case.
»» Submitted by mngrad at 4:26 PM on April 14
ok folks...we need to stop commenting here now...lest we look desperate to Kiki and she refuses further advances.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:27 PM on April 14
Vlad, we are not greedy, we just like to have vehicles and houses that we can call our own. And take vacations, and go out to eat, and buy new clothes sometimes. And buy pot.
I can't imagine livign on 18k. But that's just me.
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 4:28 PM on April 14
yea kiki is probabkly like: WTF, these people are creepy...
»» Submitted by »»» baker at 4:28 PM on April 14
The Monitor accepts no compensation of any kind for his efforts.
»» Submitted by kevin at 4:29 PM on April 14
Song? I was thinking of the Jay McInerney book (or the movie based on said book).
OMFG, he went to my college. For reals!
Or rather I went to his college (still for reals!).
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:31 PM on April 14
my best friend got a job right out of college at Target as a business analyst making $56K. and I know people at Ameriprise and USbank that are in the 50s as well.
different strokes I guess, theres no way I could live on 18K... unless 'super well' means ramen noodles and a bicycle
»» Submitted by tj at 4:34 PM on April 14
Social security reminds every year that when I was a sophomore in HS, I made a whopping $3,400/year salary - well below the poverty line.
I also lived with my parents who bought my groceries, paid the utilities, and didn't charge me rent so I guess I did ok.
»» Submitted by »»» Cat at 4:36 PM on April 14
I could live on $18k per month....but I'd have to switch to blended Scotch.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:41 PM on April 14
You call that living?
I live super well with $18k a year. Could I support a family with this? Obviously not. But for a single young guy, it is plenty.
Congratufukinlations? You just won...what, the Frugal Olympics?
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:50 PM on April 14
My grandfather was a 2 time Gold Medalist in the Frugal Olympic Decathalon. He was strongest in the "do not use hot water in the house" and "have nothing but oatmeal for breakfast every day" events.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:53 PM on April 14
Oh, the Scottish, those stingy bastards!
My grandfather had his medals taken away at the Frugal Olympics in speed shopping and long distance saving after giving a black power salute...Wait, no, he just gave someone the finger after receiving incorrect change.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:55 PM on April 14
Oh, I remember the court case that followed that. It was rated X by an all-white jury.
Hey Max, why did you let the title of this thread remain uncapitalized?
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:59 PM on April 14
Speaking of jobs, I have to go run a focus group now. (My first one!) I'm going to go weep in the bathroom before getting started.
Catch y'all later.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 5:01 PM on April 14
Hm. It is uncapitalized. Well, I'll leave it like that, to properly represent the broken shift key on Kiki's computer.
Jay McInerny is black?
Every time I return home, my hometown greets me with a black power salute.
speaking of speed shopping, I had a roommate with a meth problem. he went to interview for a job. the interviewer asked him to rate himself in certain categories, ie:
Q: how do you rate yourself on organizational skills?
A: 9
Q: how do you rate yourself on teamwork?
A: 8
Q: how do you rate yourself on friendliness:
A: 10
Q: how do you rate yourself on speed?
A: (laughing) 10+ ...hey hey hey hey I'm really good on speed omigod I'm on speed right now.
»» Submitted by grote at 5:05 PM on April 14
Grote:
1. Yes, Williams College is very well known as one of the greatest Historically Black Colleges evar. Wait, I might need to double check on that.
2. I don't think that you are getting a salute from that statue. Wasn't it built in honor of LL Cool J's promise to knock you out because his mother suggested that he do so?
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 5:12 PM on April 14
Thanks all. I am proud to be a frugal champion.
While I do rock the bike, I eat fairly well. Wedge Co-op represent.
However, I don't buy clothes, electronics, etc.
Not going out ever helps as well.
At least I have all of you guys as my online friends right.....?
Oh wait.....
LOL
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 5:17 PM on April 14
Actually, being super cheap right now makes me feel sweet, because I hope to save a large percentage of my wage once I am hired by a proper engineering firm.
Then I can invest all my money in a LEED certified, carbon neutral, environmental utopia house.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 5:18 PM on April 14
Max clearly hates capitalism.
I, ON THE OTHER HAND, LOVE IT.
»» Submitted by kevin at 5:27 PM on April 14
hell yea dude. when i can afford it, i am going to build a nice green house, with bells and whistles, all being powered by solar.
»» Submitted by baker. at 5:31 PM on April 14
Yeah, bixby, will you update and repost your list? That list was brilliant.
Hope your focus thingy went well.
Kiki, yes, you can find wine for $6, but $8-12 is more standard. At least at the joints I hang out in.
»» Submitted by »»» jane at 6:03 PM on April 14
Am I reading it right that you have a job offer, Kiki? Which company is it (I can think of maybe half a dozen, but there are probably a lot more I don't even know about).
»» Submitted by »»» kurtis at 6:26 PM on April 14
Hmm... as the other UMN grad student, like vlad I make about $20k a year. And I think I live well also, and I don't think I'm very frugal. I eat out about 80% of the time because I freaking hate dealing with food and generally do what I please, and I always come out ahead. Maybe if it wasn't for long lab hours I'd have more time to spend money.
»» Submitted by »»» jeffk at 6:34 PM on April 14
Damn, maybe I should get a real job. I went to college, honest!
»» Submitted by »»» chuck at 6:43 PM on April 14
Don't people realize that salary has nothing to do with how competent you or what job you are actually doing but how good you are at kissing ass and how rich your parents are?
»» Submitted by Mpls Simpleton at 8:26 AM on April 15
What the hell. My first job out of college was in publishing and I was making eight bucks an hour.
How the hell do these people squeeze 60k out of small book publishers? That is just baffling and slightly unrealistic.
»» Submitted by tinnie at 8:54 AM on April 15
Besides, why on earth would anyone even remotely consider moving away from the warm cozy womb of Manhattan? It's the pearl of civilization!
»» Submitted by tinnie at 9:05 AM on April 15
Funny, NYC always seemed like a noisy clusterfuck to me...call me provincial.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 9:08 AM on April 15
Have you been to Manhattan in the last ten years? It's immaculate. Besides the garabage on the street, it's cleaner and more gentrified than anything in the city of Minneapolis.
In 2004, I couldn't find any non Starbucks coffee shop on the entire island of Manhattan.
»» Submitted by tinie at 9:14 AM on April 15
Sorry, but I'm just not buying into the NYC bull about being the center of the universe that they would like everyone else to believe. It's a great city, but I really wouldn't want to live there.
And, I hate to admit this, but I do like Starbucks an awful lot. I've had some pretty shitty coffee at independant coffee houses.
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 9:19 AM on April 15
I don't want to live on $18K a year. Wanted to be completely on the record on that.
»» Submitted by aeklundatwork at 9:26 AM on April 15
I don't want to live on $18K a year. Wanted to be completely on the record on that.
I was offered, and accepted my first management position at CPT Corporation for $18,000 ... a 50% increase over my old job!
I was so elated I came home and told the DA that we were set for life!
Oh yeah, this was in 1977.
»» Submitted by »»» mazasapa at 9:41 AM on April 15
It's immaculate. Besides the garabage on the street,
............
»» Submitted by baker. at 9:44 AM on April 15
My first job out of college in the 1990 recession paid $19,500. My second job paid $32,000. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven...or wherever rich people go when they die.
»» Submitted by aeklundatwork at 9:52 AM on April 15
You can't compare 1977 to now. That was the year of my birth for chrissakes.
»» Submitted by tinnie at 10:02 AM on April 15
NYC is arguably the center of the universe.
Why?
1. Look at movies a ton of them are filmed there. I would say 50%, the other 50% in LA.
2. Same with TV shows.
3. Business capital of the world
4. One of the most important fashion cities in the world
5. Terrorists want to blow it up, thus they see it as the capital of the western civilization.
Manhattan is an amazing place with incredible diversity, history, etc.
It has cleaned up super well, and I was not afraid to walk around town at 3am in the morning.
6. Awesome squares for people to meet
This has got to be my favorite thing about NYC. Union Square is such a fun place. I could sit there all day and people watch. Also meeting a friend there is always fun, as well as the radical political groups that protest there. I wish Minneapolis had something like this.
Anyway, NYC is cool, that doesn't mean I want to live there. Too much competition for housing.
Minneapolis is the love of my life. I only want it to bloom into a city where all its gems shine.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 11:36 AM on April 15
Thank you vlado4 for this fine treatise on why New York is the center of the Western World for those who don't get it...
bravo!
»» Submitted by tinnie at 2:30 PM on April 15
Frankly, I wonder if Manhattanites have ever even bothered to venture off the island. I've been to Europe twice and traveled to almost every state in the union and yet, I live in "flyover country."
»» Submitted by »»» aliecat at 2:33 PM on April 15
Also, Manhattan is cool for having 90% of residents not owning cars. S-weet.
On the other hand, I enjoy the cold weather and less popular status of Mpls. I don't want it to turn into another NY or worse Atlanta or something of the likes.
Car-free utopia on the other hand..... ummm (well highway-free would be sufficient) Keep the highways to the burbs.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:16 PM on April 15
That reminds me that episode of Sex and the City when Miranda gets set up with "Manhattan Guy" who hadn't left the isaland in ten years.
I'm kind of like that when it comes to the Minneaple. I love it so much. I have no reason to leave it and seldom do.
Coon Rapids is where?
Cottage Grove is what? A suburb? Never heard of it. Never been there.
»» Submitted by tinnie at 3:27 PM on April 15
I read a book about a guy like that this summer. Only he hadn't left Manhattan in like 260 years.
»» Submitted by »»» kurtis at 3:32 PM on April 15
I was in Manhattan in January 39th and Lexington.
Not a car in sight.
...Not
»» Submitted by The Rat at 3:35 PM on April 15
Still.
Your average New Yorker doesn't drive.
I sometimes hate being an oddball non-driver in a driving culture. But I'm odd in some many other ways people barely notice.
»» Submitted by tinnie at 3:40 PM on April 15
I don't think many people care if you don't drive. It's not that terribly odd.
But it's a decision, not a cause, particularly in New York. There'd probably be more car owners if it wasn't just too much of a hassle and an expense.
»» Submitted by The Rat at 3:56 PM on April 15
You will need a car to live here, period. Next, get ready for salary sticker shock. Just the way it is. It is a bit cheaper to live here, for sure, but not much. You will need lots of warm clothes, for one. The winters are longer and more severe. Also, don't talk too much about coming from Gotham. You will be doing it in a well-meaning attempt to get to know people and let them know you, but there's a p ermeating sense of resentment about NY here. Don't know why, go ask a native. All i know is, it seems to set people off. Example: I naively mentioned to a dug-in MN native that i was from NYC. After a bizarre look of discomfort on her part, she blurted, "But you do like it here, don't you?" Point---don't let everyone know where you're from, it seems to set off some kind of weird ax they need to grind.
»» Submitted by Cali at 11:35 AM on May 10
»»» = registered user. click on it to see the user's profile.
|
|
|
