College graduates landing new jobs this year should see some of the best starting salaries in a decade, predicts a Michigan State University survey of more than 4,300 employers.
Starting salaries for graduates in all degree levels are expected to increase an average of 4 percent. Even more impressive: 48 percent of survey respondents said they will raise starting salary offers – a 9 percent increase over last year.
“We have not seen this level of employers raising salary offers since 2006-07,” said Phil Gardner, director of the annual Recruiting Trends survey and an MSU economist. “It’s the first sign that salaries are beginning to rise at a fast pace.”
Hiring of college graduates is also expected to increase at a rapid pace. Read more here.
Here’s a snapshot of starting salaries for graduates with bachelor’s degrees in select jobs:
- Electrical engineering: $62,428
- Software design: $61,466
- Civil engineering: $54,333
- Human resources: $47,272
- Accounting: $47,245
- Nursing: $46,159
- Marketing: $44,087
- Agriculture business: $44,026
- Criminal justice: $39,622
- High school math and science teacher: $38,841
- Social work: $37,115
- Pre-K and kindergarten teacher: $35,626