chess.com rating versus FIDE rating

I am thinking of joining USCF to get a FIDE rating.  Is my chess.com rating a good starting point in USCF or are the ratings systems completely different?

There are beginners and strong players in OTB tournaments.  Your rating is fine to begin.  Not so long ago there was no online chess and you could only play in tournaments or in clubs... so there's certainly no prerequisite of strength to enter a tournament.  Large tournaments have class sections so you're able to play many players closer to your skills level (although you'd start by entering in the section for unrated players).  It's the open section that has all the heavy hitters, so it's not like you'll be facing masters, grandmasteres, and people like this.