Some people equate their personal worth by how much weight they can bench press at the gym or by how much beer they can drink before passing out. Others associate their worth by how skinny and attractive they look or by how “big” certain things are. However, perhaps the universal factor people use to gauge their own value is by how much they get paid.

Annual salaries are probably the most talked about among fresh college graduates when comparing overall success in their careers. Unfortunately, there can be pressure from parents, friends or colleagues to make increasingly more money and it just seems to get worse every year. Often, insecurities will develop (Am I making enough…Bob is making more than me and he’s just as old as I am…why can’t I make as much as she is…) and we can all feel a little lost sometimes.

Personally, I feel most of these worries are unwarranted and a waste of your time. It’s never good to compare yourself to your friends since they may not even work in the same industry as you are or have the same level of work experience. Everyone starts out differently, no one ends up the same.

Now if you really wanted to find out if you’re being fairly compensated by your employer, check out PayScale. According to PayScale.com, the median annual salary for 18-25 year olds was $36,000 in 2007. The highest paying jobs were in Software Engineering industry at $54,000 and the lowest in Administrative Assistants at $28,000. They also list the average salaries by industry, which is very helpful in deciding if your company is really giving you a fair slice of the pie. Some of you may discover that your company really is worth spending forty hours of your time every week, and if you are in this category, I offer you my congratulations. And if you’re part of the unlucky bunch who are getting screwed over…well perhaps it’s time to have a talk with the boss…

Salary Survey Report for Age: 18-25 from PayScale.com