Hello all. I am about to graduate from undergrad. I am in the final stages of interviewing for a few potential jobs. They start at 40k a year and then at 3,6, and 12 months they offer raises. It’s a training based job.
Not that I’m saying that isn’t high for most or anything. But the job does require me to relocate and travel between cities for the schooling part and work part. I could be placed working somewhere on the east coast and have to come back to the west coast every 1-2 months. Our assignments are at differing locations within a large region everyday (so drivable but could be like 2-3 hrs out)
I currently pay rent for my apartment that is 4 hrs away, my car, groceries and my cat. I make about half of that currently. I really stretch things as is. But even if I had double the income every month I would only be more comfortable with only like $500 left over for spend/ savings. Meaning I would be able to breathe. I work 4 days in the week now and drive to my clients homes which are pretty close (5-15 min).
These locations for work at the new job can be between cities. So add in the wear and tear on the car, gas and maintenance we’re looking at around 6-7k a year.
On top of that it’s more professional so I have to buy professional clothes. Rent in these bigger cities are looking like 1.5k-3k a month for a one bed room. 18,000-36,000 a year (based on average rent in a location). Hotel rooms for the 6-8 trips we have to travel for is like anywhere between 800- 3k per trip.
And then we have to buy food, utilities and I have my cat. We are well above the 40k income before taxes. Which is 33,000 with taxes.
After the raises if I did the math right we should be paid around 55k a year. And after taxes around 40k a year. And even now if I had double I wouldn’t even think about traveling. They can also just tell us to go live in like New York if they need help at that location.
I just think if I sign a contract to move I should also be able to live. But how does someone do this? I just found out this information and it starts in the next 2 months.
Also I know it sounds stressful as a job but I like that constant moving work. But this is just the macro scale of it all and it’s so expensive. Like I have a month to come up with the money for a down payment, tires and breaks for my car, shipping my furniture (busted my ass getting those- I don’t need new), clothes, and school supplies.
Oh and the 30k student debt is about to kick in within 8 months.
So how do I go about asking for a better starting salary. (Or do I just sound stupid).
TL|DR. Post undergrad job pays too little to be able to complete the tasks of the job. Is it appropriate to ask or how do I ask for a better starting salary? (Or is it fair because it’s part program and part work so we come into the program as a group)