Early Results Show Salaries Slipping for Class of 2010
Early results from a national salary report show starting salaries for Class of 2010 grads are down compared to those offered to the Class of 2009.
NACE’s Salary Survey report shows salaries are down about 2 percent. Currently, the average offer to a bachelor’s degree graduate is $48,351, down from an average of $49,353. (It’s important to recognize that this is an average—and doesn’t account for specific major, location, type of employer, or any other factor affecting salary, of which there are many.)
The slip in salaries reflects the decreased demand for new college hires, and could turn around if hiring heats up.
Below are a selection of average starting salaries by major and region; note that these reflect starting salary offers to Class of 2009 grads, and that the current trend is toward lower salaries.
Starting Salaries by Region
|
Midwest
|
Accounting |
$49,109
|
| Biology |
$32,324
|
Business Administration/Management |
$45,672
|
Chemical Engineering |
$65,312
|
Computer Science |
$60,364
|
Economics |
$48,118
|
Finance |
$49,476
|
History |
$34,870
|
| Mechanical Engineering |
$58,840
|
| Nursing |
$45,754
|
| Political Science/Government |
$40,509
|
Psychology |
$34,995
|
|
Northeast
|
Accounting |
$52,259
|
Biology |
$36,492
|
Business Administration/Management |
$47,241
|
Chemical Engineering |
$65,655
|
Computer Science |
$64,924
|
Economics |
$53,270
|
Finance |
$53,935
|
History |
$41,512
|
Mechanical Engineering |
$58,037
|
Nursing |
$53,697
|
Political Science/Government |
$41,988
|
Psychology |
$37,792
|
|
|
West
|
| Accounting |
$46,416
|
Biology |
$35,649
|
Business Administration/Management |
$43,304
|
Chemical Engineering |
$68,159
|
Computer Science |
$66,108
|
Economics |
$45,223
|
Finance |
$43,634
|
| History |
$36,521
|
| Mechanical Engineering |
$59,808
|
| Nursing |
$54,606
|
Political Science/Government |
$43,386
|
| Psychology |
$34,514
|
|
Southeast
|
Accounting |
$45,902
|
Biology |
$31,423
|
Business Administration/Management |
$43,662
|
Chemical Engineering |
$65,822
|
Computer Science |
$57,715
|
Economics |
$46,797
|
Finance |
$47,845
|
History |
$38,507
|
Mechanical Engineering |
$60,331
|
Nursing |
$43,245
|
Political Science/Government |
$37,815
|
Psychology |
$32,875
|
|
Source: Fall 2009 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers. All data are for starting salary offers to bachelor’s degree candidates. |
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