TOP PAID MAJORS FOR 2007-08 GRADUATES
In spite of recent news about an economic slowdown, the Winter 2008 Salary
Survey provides an early indication that the positive hiring projections employers
offered in the Job Outlook 2008 report will indeed be characteristic of the job
market for 2008 graduates. The Winter issue is the first salary report for the
Class of 2008, so these early data are limited; however, the overall average
starting salary offer for Winter 2008 ($49,300) is 4 percent greater than the
average salary offer in Winter 2007 ($47,414) -- right in line with the salary
increase employers predicted.
Following are the top-paid majors for 2007-08 graduates, according to NACE's
Winter 2008 Salary Survey.
| CURRICULUM | AVERAGE SALARY OFFER |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $63,749 |
| Computer Science | $58,377 |
| Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering | $58,249 |
| Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering | $56,512 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $56,429 |
| Civil Engineering | $49,427 |
| Finance | $48,795 |
| Accounting | $47,413 |
| Logistics/Materials Management | $45,577 |
| Business Administration/Management | $43,823 |
SOURCE: Winter 2008 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and
Employers. Data are for bachelor's degree candidates and for fields in which
45 or more offers
were reported.