Totally agree Bcpid! Never be afraid to negotiate your salary commensurate with your location and living costs. Keep in mind turning down unacceptable offers adds value to our profession. You will never see a doctor or lawyer in the US working for 35k.
Keep at it. After 2 years, start lookign for another job. Find a BETTER, higher paying job in an area with a LOWER cost of living. This will allow you to pay down student debt and start packing into your 401k. I moved to the middle of nowhere and live like a king, and if I made this same salary in LA I would be renting a small studio apartment instead of owning a giant mid century house, land, classic sports car, boat, etc.