I hear alot about “starving the first 3 years” and make sure you have a good savings.  I am wondering if this is for everyone or in general.  I am in a smaller town and about to start with Jones.  The average for the first year with the small salary they give you and the milestone bonuses are around $50,000-$55,000.  Is this what people mean by “starving”?  For me or for someone just out of school that is alot of money.  The cost of living down south is so much less than the north so if I were to make that the first year I would be content.  Of course I know I have to work hard to attain even that but it’s not going to make my family go hungry.

I understand for those in the industry that can make 6 figures $50,000 is peanuts, but for all the posts telling us newbies that we will struggle beyond belief is not completely accurate given each persons individual circumstances. I guess I wanted to make sure the $50,000 they estimate you can make is also a fabrication.  If it was even less than that then I understand what those posters were getting at.  Thanks!