Q: I am considering taking my job out of college as a reporter for a daily around the size of the Free Press. I am trying to figure out what the appropriate entry level salaries are for people with my experience: people who have not have had a year of professional experience, but have had three internships -- one of them at a major U.S. daily -- and substantive work in reporting and editing on a college paper.

I have seen a list online of top minimums, but obviously I would like to know is the "bottom" minimum.

Perhaps you can answer it this way: What would someone like me earn at the Free Press my first year?

Figuring

A: I'll give you three numbers for the Free Press. Using those, you and others might be able to extrapolate numbers you get from other newspapers to get some ballpark figures. Newspapers generally advertise internship rates, the Newspaper Guild has posted a list of "top minimums" at papers where it has contracts, but the floor is typically not out there.

Intern rate: $541.33.

Minimum rate for beginning reporter, copy editor, photographer, artist, designer: $617.44

Minimum rate for those jobs after five years: $874.99

Keep in mind that minimums are just that and that the spread among people at the same experience level will grow as experience grows. As a beginner with internships, you may be able to argue that your internship experience should bring you in a little higher than the minimum rate. But it's not automatic. It is rare for large papers to hire anyone at all who has not worked an internship, so you will not be differentiating yourself from your peers.

Also remember that a large part of additional compensation comes in the form of health benefits, overtime, vacations and, perhaps, savings incentives.

Get the whole picture.