Returner values from if statements

[gabrielpr12]

I am trying to create an application to calculate the pay of an employee based on their skill level. I have created some if statements that determine the pay rate depending their skill level. I keep getting errors saying that a variable has not been initialize. I need help clearing that error. Here is my code:

import java.util.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class Pay3
{
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		double rate;
		double hoursWorked;
		double regularPay;
		double overtimePay;
		int skillLevel;
		final int FULL_WEEK = 40;
		final double OT_RATE = 1.5;
		Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);
		
		System.out.print("What is your skill level?");
		skillLevel = keyboard.nextInt();
		if(skillLevel == 1)
			rate = 17.00;//how do I format this in order to return the rate value??
			else
				if(skillLevel == 2)
					rate = 20.00;
				else
					if(skillLevel == 3)
						rate = 22.00;
		else
			System.out.println("Invalid skill level.");
		
		System.out.print("How many hours did you work this week?");
		hoursWorked = keyboard.nextDouble();
		if(hoursWorked > FULL_WEEK)
		{
			regularPay = FULL_WEEK * rate;
			overtimePay = (hoursWorked - FULL_WEEK) * OT_RATE * rate;
		}
		else
		{
			regularPay = hoursWorked * rate;
			overtimePay = 0.0;
		}
		System.out.println("Regular pay is " +
			regularPay + "\nOvertime pay is " + overtimePay);
	}
	
}

The error I get is

Pay3.java:34: error: variable rate might not have been initialized
regularPay = FULL_WEEK * rate;

[KevinWorkman]

That error is showing up because you only initialize your rate variable inside that if statement. What happens if that if statement evaluates to false?

[gabrielpr12]

So, should I just implement a different loop?

[diamonddragon]

Just initialize vaiable rate within declaration.

[Fubarable]

So, should I just implement a different loop?

The code you've posted contains no loops, so your question above doesn't make sense.

What you should do is as noted by diamonddragon above, initialze your variable with some default value. What value do you want it to have when everything starts, or if none of the if conditions are true? Then where you declare the variable, assign that value to it.

In other words instead of

int foo; // this is a variable declaration

Do this:

int foo = 0; // this is a variable declaration and initialization.

Though note that the value of 0 was used just for illustrative purposes. You will have to decide what should be the best initial value to use.

[gabrielpr12]

The code you've posted contains no loops, so your question above doesn't make sense.

What you should do is as noted by diamonddragon above, initialze your variable with some default value. What value do you want it to have when everything starts, or if none of the if conditions are true? Then where you declare the variable, assign that value to it.

In other words instead of

int foo; // this is a variable declaration

Do this:

int foo = 0; // this is a variable declaration and initialization.

Though note that the value of 0 was used just for illustrative purposes. You will have to decide what should be the best initial value to use.

Thanks, that makes sense. Its working now.

[Fubarable]

You're welcome -- glad you've got it working.