The job market is "tight" when these kids expect $50k + right out of college. Those $28k jobs are for losers, doncha know?
Right on the money (no pun intended). I manage a 25 year-old marketing assistant and he complains about his low salary - low 30's a year - and asked if I didn't think he was worth more.
I told him that up until a couple years ago (I'm 31) I never made more than 32k a year and that if he wants to make more, he will need to prove to me (and upper management) that he deserves it - i.e. by working harder.
For me it's a source of pride to have a family of my own, a good job and a home, but my wife and I spent much of our 20's renting and our first house was a broken down place bought for 70k.
BUT WE LOVED IT, because it was ours and we had worked to get it.
And by the way, someone needs to tell these kids that if they're going to go to college, at least get a degree that can get you a job in the real world. Otherwise all you've got is a 4 year (or more) 'camp' experience with a huge bill to show for it.
Not a terribly high expectation. Assuming they majored in something actually in demand by the time they graduated. Engineers come pretty close to that, depending on location. Some computer science types as well.