MW Gen Z workers want to make $100,000 in their first job out of college. Four tips from experts on how to get there.

By Weston Blasi

Salary negotiation is an important and often overlooked part of a person's first job out of college

The Class of 2025 is ready to enter the workforce. Its six-figure-salary expectations don't match up with the labor market right now.

A Generation Z worker entering the job market today has high salary expectations, research shows - "$75,000 to $100,000 is the ideal salary range in the eyes of Gen Z, according to our new survey data," Andrew Murray, lead data content researcher at GOBankingRates told MarketWatch. "More than one in four (27%) of respondents aged 18 to 24 reported that range as needed to live comfortably in 2025. In comparison, just 9% believe you can live comfortably off of less than $50,000."

But the reality is that the starting salary for college graduates - a group that on average earns more and has lower unemployment than their peers without a bachelor's degree - is now projected to be $68,680, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Within that total projected salary average, there are specific carve-outs based on a student's major, with some salaries growing more than others. Salary projections are up 2.6% from a year ago for those with an engineering degree ($78,731), and up 2.8% for those with an agriculture or natural-resources degree ($63,122), for example. On the flip side, communications majors had a year-over-year salary loss of 2.6% ($60,353), and social-science majors lost 3.6% in projected wages.

New grads who hope to outperform those numbers should make sure their résumés and interviewing skills are in good shape. But one often overlooked part of the hiring process is salary negotiation.

It's paramount for new workers to negotiate their initial salary, because negotiating a few thousand more in initial wages could mean $1 million to $1.5 million in higher earnings over the course of a career, according to research from Carnegie Mellon University. That's because raises compound over time, and Gen Z workers have the most time of any age group in the workforce.

But many new workers don't do it, and they could be leaving money on the table as a result.

"I've seen firsthand the number of people who don't negotiate salaries due to fear of rejection," Harleny Vasquez, career expert and founder of consulting company yourEVOLVEDmind, told MarketWatch.

Here's what new college graduates can do to have successful salary negotiations, according to experts.

Research first

Ideally before the interview process begins, new grads should research everything they can find about the role, the industry, and what their skills and education are worth in today's market.

"Know industry standards for your role, location and experience level," Andres Lares, negotiation and career expert and managing partner at Shapiro Negotiations Institute. "Use tools like Glassdoor, PayScale and industry association data. Also, talk to recent graduates or mentors in similar positions."

Understanding what workers of similar experience and title make in the industry can give would-be hires more realistic salary expectations. It can also let them know if a job that's being offered is at a salary level that would result in their being underpaid. And it could increase confidence, too, among those with scarce experience in the job market.

"You're more prepared, you've got more information that you can leverage in the negotiation," Lares said. "You increase your level of confidence. This is especially true for new grads, because it's your first full-time job, and usually confidence is not superhigh."

Prepare your value proposition

Before you get to the salary-negotiation stage, would-be hires need to demonstrate how their individual experience and skills can help add value to the hiring organization.

Look at the skills and experience on your résumé, and demonstrate how you used them to make an impact at your previous roles, whether they were at part-time jobs, internships or in a volunteer capacity.

For example, if you're negotiating a salary for an educator position, you could bring up your experience as a teaching assistant while in school. You could tout your total hours of work, and show that a higher percentage of students passed final exams during your semester than the previous year.

"Aim to quantify accomplishments that translate and apply to the job posting," Lares said. "This connects your unique attributes to the employer's specific needs."

Discussing specific ways you can help the company will help workers get the higher end of the proposed salary range, too. Some examples might be if you have a more efficient way of researching leads for a sales position, or if you're able to harness your CAD experience in an engineering position to make drawings more efficiently.

Practice the negotiation

The last thing you want to happen in your first big salary negotiation is to be surprised. And one way to avoid this is to have the negotiation before the negotiation.

"Try to role-play with a friend or mentor before the actual discussion," Lares said. "This will help you prepare responses to potential objections and typical job-interview questions."

"In a real offer, let's say they offer you $67,000, is that something you're willing to accept? Hypothetically, if you've role-played that, it's not the first time you've heard it, so what you say is going to be so much more thought through - it's not going to catch you off guard," he added.

Even if you are disappointed in their offer, it's best to say thanks and not get emotional, he said. You won't be considered greedy if you make a counteroffer, particularly if you cite research that you've done beforehand.

Consider the total compensation package

Keep in mind that a worker's pay is not just about salary. There are other forms of compensation including healthcare benefits, 401(k) matching, paid time off, educational opportunities, remote or hybrid work and bonuses. All of that can be negotiated, too.

It's possible that the recruiter or person you're negotiating with won't go any higher than a specific salary figure, so in those instances you can see if other aspects of compensation could be altered instead. If they won't pay you that extra $5,000 or $10,000 in salary, maybe they can make it up for you with extra vacation days or a more flexible work schedule, which can provide financial benefits.

"You're working from home three days a week, [and] that lowers your transportation costs," Lares said as an example. "With your total take-home you could save some money."

He also noted that it's important to understand your current job situation. If you already have a good job and you're negotiating for a better one, then it's OK to be more aggressive in your salary expectations. But if you graduated in 2024 and have been unemployed for nearly a year, then you likely need to be more cautious in your negotiations.

What not to do

There are several things experts say to avoid doing during your salary negotiation if you're a new college grad.

"[You] should not get emotional and let your emotions get the best of you," Lares said. "If the interviewer gets there 10 minutes late, you shouldn't stop caring and stop putting your best foot forward. If the first offer is not what you wanted, you can get disappointed, [but] when you're emotional you make bad decisions."

It's best to express thanks for the offer and counter with a salary you consider more suitable. This counter can be right away, or in the days following the interview after you have had time to asses the offer.

What's more, Lares recommended not to let your personal situation come up in negotiations. For example, if you are looking for a job in New York City, it's not a good idea to mention that you need a higher salary because you prefer living in Manhattan versus an outer borough with a longer commute.

All the experts who spoke with MarketWatch said candidates should wait until after an offer letter has been sent out to start negotiating salary.

It's also important to research the general salary range for a role. If the range is $50,000 to $70,000, and your counteroffer is $110,000, you may not like the answer you get back.

What's unique about Gen Z college grads?

The backdrop of layoffs in many tech companies and the enormous job cuts at federal agencies, as well as economic concerns around tariffs and trade deals, point to Gen Z college grads entering a job market full of uncertainty.

"Multiple rounds of layoffs are happening every single day across the nation, and students and recent grads are seeing it in real time on social media," Vasquez said. "This makes it harder for new grads to stay positive, which can potentially lead to a lack of motivation or impostor syndrome as they navigate career uncertainty."

That uncertainty, and perhaps lack of urgency, has already led some college seniors to push back the job-application process. A survey conducted by Resume Templates in April 2025 revealed that many upcoming graduates are delaying their job searches.

But college degrees, of course, set these candidates apart from those without degrees. And despite the recent economic uncertainty surrounded by President Donald Trump's tariffs, data show that companies are still hiring.

The U.S. economy added 228,000 jobs in March, beating a consensus forecast of 140,000.

And while new workers may feel uncertain about their futures, negotiating your salary is nonnegotiable. It's not just about what new workers earn starting out; it's about building a strong foundation for the decades to come.

Read on: Consumers are feeling a little better about the economy, but concerns are still rampant

-Weston Blasi

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April 28, 2025 14:04 ET (18:04 GMT)

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