Looks like that investment in higher education is paying off for some select degree holders.
Review the high paying college majors from the list below then decide which of those majors is right or wrong for you.
This spring’s crop of college graduates has an extra reason to celebrate: Not only are new grads entering one of the strongest job markets in recent history, but starting salaries are rising, too.
The average base pay for college grads this year ticked to the highest level in at least a decade, to $49,785, according to an analysis of more than 145,000 entry-level positions by executive-search firm Korn/Ferry International , KFY 1.42% up 3% from last year.
Adjusted for inflation, today’s salaries are 14% higher than those of students who graduated in 2007 before the start of the recession, and reflect overall strength in hiring as the national unemployment rate hovers at a 10-year low. The firm has analyzed entry-level pay from just the past decade, but a spokeswoman said that given longer-term salary trends, this year’s grads will likely be the highest earning class in recent history.
Starting salaries in software-development roles climbed 5% in the past year to $65,232, while engineers are expected to earn $63,036 on average, up 1%. Also near the top of this year’s list of highest-earning grads are actuaries, at $59,212, and entry-level scientists and researchers, at $58,773.
While graduates who make their way to jobs in San Francisco and New York are expected to take home higher paychecks than their peers in Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, all major metro areas saw big jumps in average salary for entry-level degree-holders, according to the Korn/Ferry research.
Ben Collins, a senior set to graduate Sunday from Saint Bonaventure University in New York, is starting as a tax analyst at accounting firm Ernst & Young next month. The 22-year-old finance major declined to say what salary he was offered but said it was on par with his friends’ and peers’ entry-level pay packages.
“Almost everyone I know has a job, which feels good,” said Mr. Collins.
However, not all students have a job in hand on graduation day. A survey of Adelphi seniors shows that two-thirds have received at least one job offer, but Mr. Ward cautioned that only 30% of the class had responded to the survey so far. He said it takes most graduates six months to land a full-time gig. A separate survey of 1,000 college seniors by consulting firm Accenture PLC released this week found only 15% had received a job offer before graduating.
Young Americans without a college diploma face a tougher career path. College graduates over 25 earn about twice as much as adults with a high-school diploma or some college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tate Hom says
I feel that college graduates having available jobs is great. They can become lost when they fail to get a job, and it makes them feel like their degree is worthless. I think college graduates deserve entry level positions to gain experience. After all when the degree is so expensive to earn it should have some worth.
fpayan says
Yes absolutely the college degree should secure a solid paying job.
Anayeli Sepulveda says
My top 3 degrese that i choice were
1: accountant
2:call center specialist
3:claims examiner
fpayan says
Outstanding choices! You have the social skills for those positions.
jaedyn wiggins says
1. category assitant
2. E-commerce anaylsis
3.event coordinator
Roberto Cobiellas says
1: Actuary
2: E-Commerce Analyst
3: Accountant
elizabeth medina says
1. Buyer
2. E-Commerce Analyst
3. Call Center Specialist
fpayan says
Super choices.
Kendrick Larios says
Top 3 degrees
1. Actuary
2. E-Commerce Analyst
3. Accountant
fpayan says
You will be able to afford a nice beamer 🙂
Dario Alonso says
I would choose accountant, E-Commerce Analyst, and Buyer because I love the whole idea of business.
fpayan says
I like that a money making attitude!
Christine Santos says
Job Choices that interest me.
1. Accountant
2. Actuary
3. Call Center Specialist
Clalista Atienza says
1. Accountant
2. Category Assistant
3. Call Center Specialist
Jazzmine Cobian says
1. E-Commerce Analyst
2. Accountant
3. Claims Examiner
fpayan says
Ride the E-Commerce wave to prosperity!
Jenine Cadlaon says
1. Call Center Specialist
2. Claims Examiner
3. Accountant
fpayan says
Solid career choices 🙂
Youstina Labib says
Some degrees that provide college graduates with a stable income or source of cas include….
-Marketing
-Customer Service
-Actuarial
anthony soto says
accountant
Claims Examiner
E-Commerce Analyst
Diego Guzman says
1: accountant
2:call center specialist
3:claims examiner
decarlo says
1. Call Center Specialist
2. Claims Examiner
3. Accountant
Miya Russell says
Marketing and Finance degrees are helpful to 2017 college grads. My three choices would be:
1) Actuary
2) Average Graduate Base Salary
3) Claims Examiner
kevin Holloway says
Accountant
claim examiner
actuary
Hector Guizar says
1. Accountant
2.Customer Service
3.Marketing
kenia lopez says
Actuarty
E-Commerce Analyst
Accountant
martin z says
1. buyer
2. engineering
3. customer service representative
Paco Soriano says
Accountant
Customer Service
Marketing
Mario Marquez says
1. Buyer
2. engineering
3. Mechinics
Brandon Azzato says
1) Actuary
2) Average Graduate Base Salary
3) Claims Examiner
Patrick Garcia says
1. Call Center Specialist
2.Customer Service
3. Accountant
Chris DeCasas says
accountant
Claims Examiner
E-Commerce Analyst
justin Marroquin says
1.Buyer
2. Average Graduate Base Salary
3.Marketing
lilah says
Call Center Specialist Call Center $41,158 -17% $51,941 $49,760 $46,056
Category Assistant Category Management $35,592 -29% $44,917 $43,031 $39,827
Claims Examiner Claims $37,508 -25% $47,335 $45,347 $41,971
kimberly says
engineer
accountant
customer service
jonathan says
Some degrees that provide college graduates with a stable income or source of cas include….
-Marketing
-Customer Service
-Actuarial
Carmen Diaz says
1. buyer
2. Customer service
3.Actuarial
Dennia Alvarado says
customer service
marketing
claim examiner
Isabella Mendoza says
Accountant
Acutuary
Buyer
Carissa Cabrera says
1. E-Commerce Analyst
2. Accountant
3. Actuary
Sabrina Gonzalez says
1. Buyer
2. E-Commerce Analyst
3. Call Center Specialist
Teresita Wenzell says
Three degrees that interest me from the list:
1. Accountant
2. Actuary
3. E-commerce analyst
Roque Garcia says
Three degrees that interest me from the list:
1. Accountant
2. Actuary
3. E-commerce analyst
Daniel Cervantes says
1.) Account
2.) Actuary
3. E-commerce analyst
Keshav S. says
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates are earning twice as much as those with just a high-school diploma or an unfinished college, a huge margin considering that the job market had been affected by a recession in 2007. As this year is becoming one of the strongest job markets in recent years, salaries are rising while Americans without a college diploma face a greater struggle. Compared to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, it seems like San Francisco and New York is the place to be employed to take full advantage of this opportunity.