Average Starting Salary For New College Grads Up 5.3%

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The average starting salary for new college graduates earning bachelor’s degrees has increased 5.3% from last year, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Average tarting salary for recent college graduates is up 5.3%. (Census Bureau photo)
Average tarting salary for recent college graduates is up 5.3%. (Census Bureau photo)

NACE’s April 2013 Salary Survey — the first look at starting salaries for the Class of 2013 — found that the average starting salary for these college graduates stands at $44,928, up from the 2012 average salary of $42,666.

“The sizable gains in several disciplines—particularly in health sciences and business—have helped to drive up the average starting salary for the Class of 2013,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

Health Sciences Has Highest Starting Salary Gain

With an increase of 9.4%, health sciences garnered the highest increase among the disciplines. This jump brings the average starting salary for these graduates to $49,713.

Business also saw a large gain—7.1%—bumping the average salary for these graduates to $54,234.

Likewise, education and computer science saw ample increases.

The average starting salary for education majors climbed 5.1% to $40,480, while the average salary for computer science majors jumped to $59,977, 4.3% higher than last year.

Engineering (4.0%, to $62,535), communications (3.8%, to $43,145), and math and sciences (3.1%, to $42,724) all saw increases that exceeded 3%.

Meanwhile, graduates with degrees in humanities and social sciences saw the smallest gain (1.9%, to $37,058).

An executive summary of the April 2013 Salary Survey report is available at www.naceweb.org/salary-survey-data/.

NACE’s next report on starting salaries for Class of 2013 college graduates will be available in the September 2013 issue of Salary Survey.

Data in the report comes from employers and represent accepted starting salaries (not salary offers). The data are produced through a compilation of data derived from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and a master set of data developed by Job Search Intelligence.

Data for the April 2013 report were retrieved in March 2013, and represent the first look at starting salaries for the college Class of 2013. Salary Survey is published in January, April, and September.

Figure 1: Average Salaries by Discipline*

 

Category

2013 Average Salary

2012 Average Salary

Percent Change

Business

$54,234

$50,633

7.1%

Communications

$43,145

$41,550

3.8%

Computer Science

$59,977

$57,529

4.3%

Education

$40,480

$38,524

5.1%

Engineering

$62,535

$60,151

4.0%

Health Sciences

$49,713

$45,442

9.4%

Humanities & Social Sciences

$37,058

$36,371

1.9%

Math & Sciences

$42,724

$41,430

3.1%

Overall

$44,928

$42,666

5.3%

*Source: April 2013 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Category

2013 Average Salary

2012 Average Salary

Percent Change

Business

$54,234

$50,633

7.1%

Communications

$43,145

$41,550

3.8%

Computer Science

$59,977

$57,529

4.3%

Education

$40,480

$38,524

5.1%

Engineering

$62,535

$60,151

4.0%

Health Sciences

$49,713

$45,442

9.4%

Humanities & Social Sciences

$37,058

$36,371

1.9%

Math & Sciences

$42,724

$41,430

3.1%

Overall

$44,928

$42,666

5.3%

 
Category

2013 Average Salary

2012 Average Salary

Percent Change

Business

$54,234

$50,633

7.1%

Communications

$43,145

$41,550

3.8%

Computer Science

$59,977

$57,529

4.3%

Education

$40,480

$38,524

5.1%

Engineering

$62,535

$60,151

4.0%

Health Sciences

$49,713

$45,442

9.4%

Humanities & Social Sciences

$37,058

$36,371

1.9%

Math & Sciences

$42,724

$41,430

3.1%

Overall

$44,928

$42,666

5.3%

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