synthetic

Arete, thank you for your response. I'm actually not speaking of stipends. I don't expect much from a stipend. I currently get 24k for that. Fortunately, the cost of living is very cheap as well. I just don't want to graduate and make less than double what I made as a student. I'm mostly looking for responses outside of post-doc appointments, but these are welcomed as well. It is good to see how many people went post-doc first. I understand it is the traditional route to academia. Do you have any idea of the public university salary for a professor in your field? I am currently helping a PhD student with his job hunting and noticed most places do not specify even a range of pay, so it's hard to tell. I did find NRL offered I think 70k+ for a post doc position. A Japanese national lab was offering the same to it's post docs.

There may have been a little wet humor to my dry comment. However, I don't see any great benefit to marriage as you describe. I think it depends on the person. I'm fairly ambitious, particular, and require little attention. In fact, the only pets I like are those that take care of themselves and require little attention, such asa cat, or a more wild species. In contrast, my wife requires considerable attention, something that is sometimes difficult for me. Guess it above all depends on your level of dependence/codependence.

To be direct, you can't dictate morality, it's immoral and tyrannical to attempt to do so. I choose freedom over someone else's perception of what is best for me 100% of the time. "Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now." - Thomas Jefferson

I guess the first questions I have are to those who are actively working in the sciences, such as post-docs, government research scientists, industry research scientists, general Industry, and Law. What are your degrees in? What are your interests? What are your job responsibilities? Your location? Your career plans? What is the typical pay scale for what you do? If you'd rather PM private information, I'd accept that. I know on the internet people love to "fluffen their numbers" However, this post is not about comparing two individuals. It is about knowing what to expect in a certain field. The reason behind this post is I've seen numerous graduating Physics PhD students more than happy accepting jobs paying 40-50k a year. Some not even finding jobs, but this may also be their own doing. Point being, I would not be happy on that pay scale coming out of 8 years of school, since I could do the same coming out of 4 years of school. This is part of the reason I chose Materials Science opposed to Physics for grad school, as I was inclined to pursue physics to begin with. My understanding is there exists a significant industry for materials scientists that pays well. That said, I'm deathly afraid of accepting a position of monotony. I went back to school because working a boring monotonous job was enough to quench my desire to live. I'm not equipped to live that type of life. I want something intellectually challenging and would like to see an appropriate pay scale for that. So...I know this is probably a terribly difficult thing to ask after reading the introduction thread, but lets keep the opinions to a minimum, and if you must express an opinion - CLEARLY label said opinion to differentiate it from experience or fact. I'd like to learn something from this thread. I hate to go around asking my professors how much they get paid and how much their students are getting paid, it makes for an awkward situation. However, these are concerns I need to address. The bills will come.

^excellent advice.

It's illegal in China... you're welcome to repatriate there if you'd like.

my advice is never....speaking from experience.

Hello. I will answer the questions posted by another member. >Degree/Education - Starting PhD student in Materials Science. Hold B.S. in Physis and have met the requirements for a B.S. in Mathematics. >Area of science (studied and most likely to help) - Physics and Math >Area of science in interest in addition to the already obtained/working-on degree (and most likely to help) - biotech/engineering...I don't really understand this question, I'm assuming it is asking the areas of interest outside formal education. I am a non-traditional student (went back to school in my 20's.) I worked several jobs, opened a business, and ultimately hated my life. I hit the reset button and enrolled in a chemistry course at the local community college and quickly found out I had a talent for problem solving. I enjoyed challenging myself and that is what has gotten me this far. I am the first in my immediate family to attend college. I have learned just enough to know how little I really know. Now I'm just trying to figure out where I am going with my career post-doc. I hear of so many disappointing salaries in the sciences, makes me wonder if I should diverge into industry. How many practicing researchers are here who are paid their worth (perhaps I should have chosen a different word here?)