Recent College Graduates Making 8-11% Less Than They Did 10 Years Ago

[Dave_Berry]

"To the graduating class of 2012: All that money you or your parents have spent or borrowed to pay your tuition for the past few years? It's not getting the same return on investment it did a decade ago.

According to the folks at the Economic Policy Institute, the average inflation-adjusted wage for male college graduates aged 23 to 29 was $21.68/hour. That's an 11% over decline over the last ten years. And while wages for females in the same age and education group are only down 7.6% during that same time period, women still make significantly less on average ($18.80/hour).

As for those people who choose to go straight from high school into the workforce, the average wage for males aged 19-25 dropped 10% to $11.68/hour. Females in this age and education group saw a similar drop of 9.2% to $9.92/hour. ..."

Add in a decade's inflation and you have a real kick in the pants.

Recent College Graduates Making 8-11% Less Than They Did 10 Years Ago - The Consumerist

[fendergirl]

Those numbers seem about accurate based on my friends and myself.

I do think 10 years ago it was a bit more 'rare' to have a degree and with the economy being better back then, companies wanted to hire people with degrees and would pay them more. Now, many more people (from what i've seen) tend to go to college, it seems like many more people have degrees, and with the economy the way it is everyone is fighting for the same position.... so companies can pay them what they want.. people need a job.

[mini]

Supply and demand.

[SteveMA]

The value of my home is down more than 11% from 10 years ago too....other things are more expensive, gas specifically. Do those wages have the same buying power they had 10 years ago would be the real question to ask. The first apartment I had on my $16,000/year salary was $400/month. That same job now pays $35,000 to start and that same apartment is listed for $500/month. Obviously I got out of college more than 10 years ago though.

[crizello]

It's not just college graduates that are seeing a decrease in salary expectations. I think it is happening to all of us, especially those of us having been unemployed for a time in the last few years.