Wondering how much you could expect to make in your first “real” job? Then this article is for you! It will help you figure out which roles in your field get paid the best, and which skills you will need to apply. We will go over some common entry level positions in detail to help you make the best choice.
Administration
Administration is a common field, especially among new grads. It usually involves dealing with the daily tasks of running a business like filing, emailing, entering data and helping clients. On average, entry-level administrative workers make between $30,000 – $40,000 per year. The exact amount on how much you make will depend on the type of position you have and your relevant skills.
The most common role is an Administrative Assistant, which offers entry-level salaries between $29,000 – $39,000 per year. You could also work as a Data Entry Clerk, Office Administrator or a Receptionist. A receptionist is the highest paid option, averaging around $51,000, with Office Administrators in the middle and Data Entry Clerks near the lower end, making around $38,000.
Having specific skills can also increase your starting pay! Almost all administrative roles benefit from customer service and interpersonal skills, so these are always a great asset to have. You’ll also want to have experience with calendar management and budgeting. For instance, having experience with
QuickBooks and Microsoft Suite are big advantages! Plus, most administrative workers are responsible for hosting company events, which can be incredibly important to employee morale. If you’re experienced with event coordination, this is a great thing to advertise to your employers.
Communications
Communications is also a popular field among new grads. This field involves work in social media, marketing and journalism. In some communications jobs, you’ll use your writing and interpersonal skills to promote the company you work for. You might manage their social media account, create their blog posts, and so on. In other jobs, you could be tasked with sharing unbiased news or spreading information about a topic. You might even end up working with the government!
Communications jobs will net you between $40,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on your specific job title, skill set and experience. Social Media Coordinators make the lowest, between $35,000 and $40,000, while Marketing Coordinators are around the middle and Communication Coordinators make the most (between $45,000 and $55,000 per year).
Experience is the name of the game in communications, because it will show your prospective employer that you are already competent and capable of what they need. They won’t need to train you, which will save them time and money and make them willing to offer a higher starting salary.
Your skills also tie in with experience. If you know how to manage a social media account, write promotional content, or do search engine optimization, then you’re already a huge asset to their team! Alongside writing and social media skills, your ability to connect with other people is also crucial. A social media coordinator has huge influence on how the brand is perceived, so you have to make a good first impression!
Computer Science
In the most basic terms, computer scientists make and fix software to solve real-life problems and streamline computer tasks. An entry level computer scientist will make about $60,000 per year. Since you’re less likely to go into a computer science job with experience, your skills will be much more impactful.
Knowing how to develop applications, code, or manage a database are all valuable assets. Additionally, you’ll also want to know a programming language. Different employers will require different ones, but some are more common than others, like C++, Java and SQL. Applicants with these skills are more likely to get hired and get higher starting salaries, too!
Healthcare
We already have a basic idea of what healthcare workers do, but entry level jobs can be a little different. Instead of working directly with the patients, you’re more likely to do data entry or administrative work within the healthcare field. You could get a job as a Clerk or Assistant. Medical Clerks are basically receptionists at hospitals or doctor’s offices that do scheduling and collect patient information before they see the doctor. Meanwhile, Assistants will often work with a specialized doctor, handling smaller tasks and setup so the doctor can focus on their patients.
Entry-level healthcare pay varies dramatically based on your position. Medical Clerks will make about $46,000 per year, while Assistants can make anywhere between $29,000 and $40,000 per year. Administrative workers in the medical field make about the same as those in other administrative positions.
The role you get is the biggest determining factor in your pay at an entry-level position, but you’ll still want to have certain skills. Experience working under pressure is also a huge asset, because hospitals can be extremely busy. Attention to detail is also valuable for this reason. Staying calm and not making mistakes will make everything flow more smoothly, which is super important in healthcare!
Finance
Finance is one of the most lucrative industry options for a lot of new graduates. In this field, you can make between $45,000 and $65,000 per year in an entry level finance role! Some common job titles would be Financial Analyst, Junior Accountant, and Financial Advisor. Of the three, Junior Accountants made the least at around $39,000, while Financial Analysts made the most at $50,000 – $60,000 annually.
To land any of these jobs, you’ll need to have a solid understanding of business and basic accounting software. Knowing how to problem-solve and make financial reports is also crucial, too. Like many industries, your salary skyrockets with your experience. Understanding some basic accounting skills can make a big difference in how quickly you get hired, and how generous your starting salary will be too.
Legal
In the legal industry, you’re most likely to start working as a Legal Assistant so you can learn the ropes from someone more experienced. The average entry-level Legal Assistant earns around $38,000 in Canada.
As a Legal Assistant, you’ll be responsible for supporting lawyers with their cases by doing research, organizing files, and collecting relevant documents. Of course, you’ll need to have an extensive knowledge of the legal system, which you’ll probably have already learned in school. Beyond that, many soft skills are surprisingly important. You have to have a high stress tolerance, as a lot of cases can be incredibly involved. You’ll also need good time management and organizational skills, which will make it easier to manage all the competing factors in each case.
In general, your salary in the legal industry will only go up with experience, but you’ll need to meet certain qualifications to get hired. Proving your legal knowledge and time management skills are one way to ace an interview and start racking up that experience!
Additional Salaries by Industry, Annually
- Agriculture: $63,000
- Archaeology: $55, 000
- Child Care: $48,000
- Construction: $67,000
- Dentistry: $67,000
- Engineering Services: $68,000
- Food Service: $54,000
- IT Consulting: $78,000
- Oil and Gas: $74,000
- Performing Arts: $54,000
- Public Education: $67,000
- Publishing: $57,000
- Psychiatry: $85,000
- Real Estate: $57,000
- Retail: $60,000
- Social Services: $59,000
- Telecommunications: $74,000
- Transportation: $65,000