Estimating Starting Salary in Utah

[cpowell]

Hello Everyone,

I have a salary question. I'm in Utah, and I've been told that I should expect a fairly low starting salary if I was hired at one of the major actuarial employers here. I'm trying to figure out whether I should just stop considering staying here at all and just focus on a nationwide search, or if I'm making a mistake in generalizing to the other employers who hire actuarial students in Utah.

I found an internship posted in our classifieds on Sunday. It pays about $11.50-13.75 per hour. I understand that internships understandably pay less than an actuarial student position pays, but I'm wondering how much more that salary could likely be. Does anyone have a rough idea of what that difference could be?

[cpowell]

Well, given that I'm in the recruiting industry now and get an inside glimpse of pay in Utah, that hourly range was a shock. The position is listed for Utah Retirement Systems, so it's a pension position I assume, if that makes any difference.

I think I've pretty much decided to use any interviews I get here for experience. So many employers in Utah believe that their employees should be grateful for their positions, and happily accept the low pay.

Unemployment is below 1% for some industries here now, so employers are starting to increase salary offers, but grudgingly, and only in the Salt Lake valley. Salaries are still low everywhere in the state.

JMO Fan, thanks again for the information regarding Beneficial Life by the way. That information was invaluable.