I went back to school to join a field that was supposed let me contribute to society and would provide a decent enough wage for me to finally get out of my parents' house. The data about salaries and employment was given by the professional organization was misleading. When I was half-way into my degree, I started to learn how companies pay new graduates much lower for the first year, and in general, wages are all over the place without rhyme or reason. I've been told repeatedly by colleagues that you have to know your worth and advocate for yourself in this profession or you WILL be taken advantage of. I know of a case where there was a $40,000 difference in wages for the same position! My classmates have up to 15k differences in salary! I cannot find reliable information on average starting salaries anywhere.
(So, how did this happen? My original plan was to do the public service loan forgiveness but it turns out the non-profits in the field don't pay enough for you to afford health care, rent, and childcare. I see women dropping out of the field left and right because they couldn't pay for childcare. We can't wait a decade to start a family!!! I've got to put the bulk of my earnings into this loan right out of the gate to keep it from ballooning. I've been living below the federal poverty level (my first degree was useless) and I can keep doing this for a few years. I'm going to get a second job and I know to job hop periodically to get raises. I might cut out some health care to save money. You may feel smug about judging me, but judgment and hindsight don't change where I am now. Please refrain from leaving unhelpful comments.)
What would you do, going into salary negotiation without information to back you up?
I'm terrified that if I don't start out with a fair wage I'm going to be fucked for life with my student loans. Student loans might be the difference between my family line ending or continuing. The biological clock is ticking. How do I get that money?