The average starting salary for college graduates was around $55,260 at the end of 2022. However, defining a “good” salary isn’t as simple as looking at a number. The most important factor is understanding how far that salary will take you in your city of choice, and what kind of lifestyle it can afford you there. For example, the cost of living in New York City is more than double that in Austin, according to Bankrate’s cost of living calculator, so that same $55,260 would be considered a much better salary in Austin than it would in Manhattan.