The article focuses on what people consider as good wages. It may seem odd at first glance that young men who specifically mention 'good wages' as an important feature of a job do not expect higher earnings than those who consider other features first. A recent survey among national cross sections of 371 male high school seniors and 381 male college seniors gave us an opportunity to observe the phenomenon. In answer to an open question about the things a good job should offer, about two-fifths of the high school group volunteered the idea of 'good wages.' When asked about their wage expectations, these boys mentioned average starting earnings of $1,932 a year and average earnings after five years of $3,557. The other boys, who had not mentioned wages as a job attribute, expected to start at $1,978 a year on the average and to be making $3,714 five years later! The 'materialists' tend to come from lower socio-economic levels, which may make them more aware of the need for 'good' wages. The 'idealists' tend to come from upper levels, where their association with higher incomes may lead them to expect higher earnings as reasonable.