Starting salaries for field/searching for job in CS

[Snow Eagle]

Hi, I originally got brought here from google searching looking for jobs in CS and salaries in CS for Canada. However the forum I was in was definitely dead and I didn't want to necro post in a 3 year old topic("Salary for Computer Science"), so starting this new one to get some answers and to see if things have changed over the pass few years from what was posted there.

I am graduating in a month with a Masters of Computer Science specializing in Intelligent Systems, AI, especially in Artificial Neural Networks. But I know GA, GP, PSO and a tons of heuristics as well.
I have a great average. 87% Masters, 83% Bachelors.

I have 2 years working experience through co-op. 2 positions as an Research Assistant(implementing ANNs) at the University I am attending, 8 months at Research In Motion(Graphics and Media Department), and 4 months in Munich Germany on a research internship.

Now I find myself looking for permanent work.

1. I would like to find something in the area of Artificial Intelligence, either game industry related or not preferably in Canada, more specifically in the Toronto/Waterloo region if possible. What keywords/businesses should I take a look at and apply to?

2. What kind of starting salaries should I be aiming for realistically with my grades, degree, and experience?

I saw from the other forum starting salaries as low as 40K and 50K... which for me sounds really really low. Considering I made 29,000$ in the 8 months(43,500$/year projected) I worked at RIM making over 20$/hour as a co-op without even a BSc and 0 work experience, starting at that amount with what I have seems very low. Am I wrong though? I was thinking in the range of 60 to 70K as reasonable starting salary. Especially since most of the recent graduates of my program are getting WAY more than that. 2 of the most recent grads of the Masters program I am in are making 90K/year start(roughly same grades as me, 0 work experience), and 95K+10Kstock options(got a job at google, but was also the brain of my program and received the governor generals award at my uni for highest graduating avg over all programs with like 97% overall). As well when I was at RIM one of my fellow co-ops graduated from his program and got a job(with 2 years experience at the company) starting at 84K/year. As well I know of a friend looking for somebody with Microsoft Silverlight experience offering 70K/year.

So the question is, is 40 to 50K really a good starting salary? or is it more like around 70K especially since I have a Masters? As well in my speciality what are lets say the salaries to look for an AI Programmer in gaming, starting out, and projected as you gain experience, 3, 5, and 10 years down the road.

Hopefully there are people who can help me out on different places to look for work, what salaries I should realistically try to negotiate to/accept so I don't get ripped off, but don't try and go way over my head either.

Thanks in advance for the help

[Tony]

Snow Eagle @ Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:01 pm wrote:

So the question is, is 40 to 50K really a good starting salary?

Nope, too low. Glass Door will be an excellent resource for trying to figure this matter out -- http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/toronto-software-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM976_KO8,16.htm (not sure if this deep link will stay, might need to make another search for "software" in "Toronto")