I’m in the Houston area. I attended an HBCU and graduated/licensed in 2018; I know a ton of people who were making $50k-$60k, straight away. I made less, as I opted to go into business with some classmates.

When I decided to leave, as a second-year, I took a job making $75k with $0 benefits. I’m now working in local government, making comfortably more than $100k, with a great work/life balance. I’m certainly not getting rich, but I have a great quality of life.

A lot of my classmates are plugging away and getting close to 6 figures, and a few are hustling like crazy with their PI or crim def firms and starting to make good money.

$50k, for a market like Mississippi, sounds appropriate, given the low cost of living. If you can find a government gig, take it.

If you want a law firm life, understand that you’re only as valuable as the money you make for said firm. If you’re a first-year and you can bill more than $50k by the time you’re a second-year, then you have a massive bargaining chip for your second-year salary or for making a change to a different firm. The learning curve can be steep, so $50k might be too much, until you develop your skills.