I was laid off from my role as an Accounts Payable Specialist in April 2025 after working for the company for about four years. I started as an Ops Assistant making $22 per hour, and within six months, I transitioned to an Ops Coordinator role with a salary of $65,000. Over the years, my salary increased to $70,000 in 2024 and then to $85,000 before my layoff. After moving from Los Angeles to New York, I've been working as a barista while also holding two office jobs—one part-time at $30 per hour and a full-time remote position that paid $80,000. I'm currently looking for new opportunities and would be comfortable starting again at $65,000 to $75,000. However, I'm noticing many job listings around $55,000, which isn't feasible for me due to my debt and cost of living. A friend and former coworker mentioned that our previous job paid well for the industry, but I'm starting to feel like my salary expectations might be out of touch.