The average starting salary for 2012 college graduates earning bachelor’s degrees rose 3.4 percent over last year to $44,455, according to a report released by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The 2011 average starting salary was $42,987.

“We’ve seen a steady increase in the average starting salary for bachelor’s degree graduates over the past two years, indicating improvement in the job market for college graduates,” said Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

The highest increases came in education, up 5.4 percent, to $40,668

The report is produced using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau and a master data set developed by Job Search Intelligence.