What kind of returns should I be expecting as a beginner to investing?

For beginners, best is to avoid making lost / selling when the stock is not doing well.

Take small steps first, make small amounts and try to not accumulate any losses

I feel that it depends on what assets you invest in. If you invest in US stocks/ETFs like SPY, and QQQ, in the short term, the market is more volatile and you might lose money but in the long run, you can expect it to be more consistent in terms of return.

Depending on risk level, you can earn from FA (low risk) to Cryptocurrency (high risk)