Engineering majors are projected to post the highest starting salary among the class of 2017 bachelor’s degree graduates, according to salary survey data released by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The projected rate of $66,097 is up almost 2% from last year, when NACE reported projected salaries for engineering majors averaged $64,891.
Average starting salaries for engineering, computer science, and math and sciences graduates remain the highest paid among this year’s bachelor’s degree grads.
The average projected salaries by discipline among bachelor’s degree graduates in 2017 compared to 2016 salaries:
- Engineering: $66,097, up from $64,891
- Computer science: $65,540, up from $61,321
- Math and sciences: $59,368, up from $55,087
- Business: $54,803, up from $52,236
- Agriculture and natural resources: $54,364, up from $48,729
- Social sciences: $53,459, up from $46,585
- Communications: $51,925, up from $47,047
- Humanities: $48,733, up from $46,065
Among graduates with master’s degrees, engineering students — who topped the list of projected highest-paid master’s degree graduates last year — are second this year, with average salary projected to edged up only 1.6% year over year to $75,053.
Computer science majors are projected to post the highest starting salary among 2017 master’s degree graduates at $81,039, up more than 12% from last year’s projection.
The 2017 average projected salaries in by discipline for graduates with master’s degrees include:
- Computer science: $81,039
- Engineering: $75,053
- Business: $74,066
- Math and sciences: $70,061
- Communications: $67,364
- Social sciences: $61,333
The projected 2017 average salaries by discipline for doctoral degrees include:
- Computer science: $110,841
- Engineering: $95,973
- Math and sciences: $86,713
- Business: $78,379
The Winter 2017 Salary Survey included 243 NACE employer members, who reported their projected salaries for their anticipated new hires from the class of 2017. It was conducted from Aug. 5 through Nov. 30.
