2003 x
2005 2x
2008 3x
2012 3x - industry change
2013 3.5x - back to original industry
2015 4x
2017 5x
2020 5x -major role change based less on bonuses
2024 7x

Not doing too shabby for myself and I have a pretty high quality of life doing what I do.

2013 - 35k
2014 - 35k (changed industry/company)
2015 - 27k + commission (moved from straight salary)
2017 - 36k (moved roles within company)
2018 - 45k (new company)
2020 - 55k (merit raise)
2022 - 75k (promotion + raise)
2023 - 68k (new company after 15 months of burnout in previous role)

My first job as a student worker was at 5.15/hour. Which sounds insane to even think I was able to live off of that.

My first job was a bagger at Albertsons at 2818 and Longmire in 2000. I was 16 and started at $5.60 per hour.

Ugly said:

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Interesting topic to scroll through.

Nuclear Engineering degree,

2010: x
2015: 1.22x
2021 :1.61x (2020 was weird)
2024 :1.97x (projected)

Starting x wasn't super low and I've played it a bit conservative with only one job change (when my previous company went under), but I have plenty of job security due to my experience in a niche industry.

As for the six figure question, I don't have much of an issue with keeping up with the Jones's, but kids are just flat out expensive, and I did "indulge" a bit to let my wife stay at home to raise the kids for several years. I got lucky and managed to buy a house at a reasonable price before the last explosion, drive old cars, and had no student debt, so I have gotten by with other expenses increasing.

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Update:
2010: x
2015: 1.22x
2021 :1.61x (2020 was weird)
2025 :2.13x


Inflation adjusted:
2010: x
2015: 1.20x
2021 :1.36x
2025 :1.57x

2000 - x
2017 - 2.5x
2025 - 6.1x

Chemical Engineering degree

2003: x
2025: 14.3x

Same industry.

2011 - x
2014 - 1.4x
2019 - x
2025 - 3.5x

Transitioned from coaching to insurance in 2019

Base salary:

2010: x
2014: 1.47x - role change, same company
2017: 2.04x - company change
2022: 3.43x - department change
2025: 4.24x - promotion to management

Bonus increased from 5% to 30% over this span
RSUs at 15% of base starting in 2026

Insurance industry

SpreadsheetAg said:

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SpreadsheetAg said:

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Base salary Only (no other compensations like bonuses, etc)
2004 1.00x (first job out of A&M)
2005 1.20x (company change)
2007 1.79x (company change)
2009 2.25x (promotion)
2010 2.65x (company change)
2014 3.71x (moving overseas for same company)

Projected 2015 - if all goes right: 5.86x

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Update - lasted about a year; then oil downturn got me while I was in Australia...

2016 - 2.7x (contract work )
2016 - 3.1x (full time)
2017 - 3.4x (promotion)
2019 - 4.0x (promotion)
2021 - wage stagnation during downturn but I've kept my Job and made some good bonuses - but base salary hasn't moved much

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Update:
2021 - 4.5x Changed Campaniles
2024 - 5.4x Raises + Promotion

Are we talking pure base salary or do you include:

• SAR's
• RSU's
• PSU's
• Annual Bonus
• Car Allowance
• Living Allowance

My Salary from my first job is ~6x from the base, but much of my compensation is in those bullet points vs what my base salary is.

Now vs summer of 2011 when I started my first 'real' job.

• Base Salary: 4.9x
• Total Comp: 7.9x

Gordon McKernan said:

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Now vs summer of 2011 when I started my first 'real' job.

• Base Salary: 4.9x
• Total Comp: 7.9x

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Did you switch from Construction Science to Big Tech?

Fun thread! BS in econ. Same company since 2009

2004 1.0x (first job out of A&M)
2005 1.2x (laid off, new job)
2009 2.4x (new job)
2015 3.2x
2020 4.9x
2025 7.7x

How are people getting such high multiples?

Are your starting salaries just very low?

Not even 3x my starting salary, back in 2009. Traditional engineering field.

This thread isn't very helpful without more context

AggiEE said:

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How are people getting such high multiples?

Are your starting salaries just very low?

Not even 3x my starting salary, back in 2009. Traditional engineering field.

This thread isn't very helpful without more context

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I think in my case, my starting was pretty low even by comparison for the times. (30k in 2004).

AggiEE said:

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How are people getting such high multiples?

Are your starting salaries just very low?

Not even 3x my starting salary, back in 2009. Traditional engineering field.

This thread isn't very helpful without more context

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Industry is another big factor. I am in public accounting and my multiple today is >30x more than starting in 1997.

f burg ag said:

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AggiEE said:

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How are people getting such high multiples?

Are your starting salaries just very low?

Not even 3x my starting salary, back in 2009. Traditional engineering field.

This thread isn't very helpful without more context

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Industry is another big factor. I am in public accounting and my multiple today is >30x more than starting in 1997.

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Cool thread - hope to remember to come update this in 5 years

Graduated 2019 (PPA - Tax)

2019 - x - Big 4 Public Accounting
2020 - x + $5K CPA Exam passing bonus // COVID = no annual raise
2021 - 1.23x + OT/ Client Commissions // Moved to smaller local CPA firm
2022 - 1.33x + OT/Client Commissions // Mid-year raise (COL/Inflation was higher than normal and firm wanted to help out)
2023 - 1.42x + OT/Client Commissions // Annual Raise
2024 - 1.49x + OT/Client Commissions // Annual Raise
2024 - 1.45x + OT // Career Change to Analyst at Midstream company (burnt out from public accounting)
2024 - 1.5x + Bonus // Role Change at same company - Accounting role opened up randomly
2025 - 1.56x + Bonus // Annual Raise

hbc07 said:

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hbc07 said:

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2011: .33x (graduated & couldn't find work.)
2012: 1x
2013: 1.12x
2014: 1.27x
2015: 1.33x
2015 again: 1.42x.
2016: 1.42x
2017: 1.45x
2018: 1.66x (moved cross country to different office of same firm)

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2022: 2.51x (job change)
2024: 2.96x (contemplated quitting, boss enticed me to stay, expecting another raise in June)

More or less toiled away at a job where I was underpaid for the first ~10 years of my career. I think I'm still somewhat underpaid at my current job, but I enjoy it, feel appreciated, and have a lot of perks that I would lose if I went anywhere else.

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2025: 3.4x (internal transfer within overarching corporate umbrella. comprised of base plus guaranteed minimum commissions even if I do no commissionable work but the commissions have the possibility of being substantial and I'm already apparently in line to open up a branch office... so much less stress and I take no work home with me except stories about the day)

ktownag08 said:

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ktownag08 said:

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ktownag08 said:

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ktownag08 said:

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Working for 4 years and only 1.44x where I started on base salary, but I started fairly high. Have good bonus opportunity on top.

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Great thread! Interesting to go back and see my own post from 2013. Here's my update with just switching companies earlier this year.

2017: 2.03x + 20% bonus (+ sizable off-cycle bonus opportunities, it's a very small company with a generous CEO)

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Seems this pops up every 4 years for me. Anyways, here's the progression:

2009: x (no bonus)
2013: 1.44x + bonus
2017: 2.03x + regular bonus + off cycle bonuses
2021: 3.43x base, 5.33x with bonus + equity options that could push ever higher

Worth noting I'm at the same company as 2017, but it sold, and I've been fortunate to rapidly climb the corporate ladder.

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Still same company. Kept climbing although have likely peaked, but I'm happy with where I'm at in the hierarchy...

2024: 6.05x base, ~14x w/ bonus + equity options

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Once again, same company and got promoted again. Absolutely have peaked in this company, but I could ride this for a long while...

2025: 7.4x base, 20x w/ bonus + equity options