TOP PayING INDUSTRIES pg. 7 SALARIES BY MAJOR pg. 9 SALARIES BY MAJOR BY INDUSTRY pg. 14 nace Salary Survey STARTING SALARIES FOR NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES APRIL 2012 Featuring: Top Industries Individual Majors Top Employing Industries Major by Occupational Position Industry Top-Paying Positions
Table of Contents About the Survey... 3 Executive Summary... 4 Top-Paying Industries... 7 Top-Hiring Industries... 8 Starting Salary by Academic Major Bachelor s Degrees... 9 Salary Ranges Business Majors... 9 Salary Ranges Engineering Majors... 11 Salary Ranges Humanities Majors... 12 Salary Ranges Social Sciences Majors... 13 Salary Ranges Math & Science Majors... 13 Top Industries for Individual Majors... 14 Top Majors Within Individual Industries... 25 Top Industries Top Majors... 29 Major by Occupational Position Industry... 35 Occupational Position by Major Industry... 46 Top-Paying Positions... 49 RESEARCH STAFF Director of Foundation and Strategic Research: Edwin Koc Employment Information Manager: Andrea Koncz Research Assistant: Anna Longenberger Copyright 2012 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. No part of this publication may be used, adapted, or reproduced in any manner without written permission. THE NEW SALARY SURVEY Since 1960, when the first issue of Salary Survey was published, NACE has been providing information about salaries for new college graduates. Compiled from data provided by participating colleges and universities that collected the information from their graduates, the report featured starting salary offers. The Spring 2012 Salary Survey issue marks the second report using NACE s new data collection method. This new and improved report contains employer-based data gathered from government and other sources, and the data are actual starting salaries, not offers. Because the data come from a statistically valid sample of employers rather than from voluntary reports by students, the new report is more representative of the college population as a whole; the old report was heavily weighted toward engineering, accounting, and other disciplines that traditionally receive job offers prior to graduation. The new report contains more data, and the data are more robust, allowing for additional analysis. The change in methodology and the shift from salary offer data to actual salary data necessitate two additional changes: First, in the past, the Winter report had been the first report for the new year s class. This year, the Winter 2012 report provided final salary data for the Class of 2011, and this issue, the Spring 2012 report, marks the first report for the Class of 2012. Second: Due to the seasonality of the data, the median salary values are being compared from this year to last year, as opposed to the average salaries. 2 Salary Survey
About the Survey Data contained in the NACE Salary Survey are produced through a compilation of data derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and a master data set developed by Job Search Intelligence. Data for the Spring 2012 Salary Survey report were retrieved in February 2012, and were compiled using a proprietary methodology created by Job Search Intelligence. (Please note: Some fields include an asterisk, indicating that data are not currently available in those instances. However, data will be available in future reports.) Salary Survey (ISSN 1520-8648) is available to individuals holding organizational membership in the National Association of Colleges and Employers; it is also available on a subscription basis. Salary Survey is published three times a year January, April, and September by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 62 Highland Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18017-9085. For more information, see www.naceweb.org or contact NACE at 800.544.5272. HOW TO READ SALARY SURVEY Starting Salary by Academic Major...PG. 9 In this section, you will find the median starting salary according to the major field of study, with no regard to the type of position or type of employer reporting the salary. Refer to this section when you want to know the starting salary for a graduate holding a degree in a specific discipline, such as accounting or computer science. Top Industries Individual Majors...pg. 14 This section shows data first by the major field of study, then by the type of employer (industry) reporting the salaries. Employer types are listed in descending order by number of reported new graduate entrants. See this section when you want the average starting salary reported by a specific type of employer to a graduate earning a degree in a specific major. This section may also be particularly helpful in examining the employer types that hire the most new graduates of a particular major. (Example: Average salary that manufacturing firms are reporting for electrical engineering graduates. Also, the other industries that are hiring the most electrical engineering graduates and their corresponding average salaries.) Top Majors Individual Industries...pg. 25 This section contains the same basic information as Top Industries/Individual Majors, but in a different order. You will see data by a specific type of employer (industry), then according to the average salary by major field of study. Majors are listed in descending order by number of reported new grad entrants. Use this section to find the average starting salary reported by a specific type of employer to a graduate in a specific major and to identify which majors were most hired into a specific industry. (Example: Majors hired by construction firms, and their corresponding average starting salaries.) Major By Occupational Position Industry... pg. 35 This section shows data first by the major field of study, then according to the employers (industries) that reported specific occupational positions and their corresponding average salaries. Industries and occupational positions are both listed in alphabetical order. Use this section when you need information about the average salary for a graduate with a specific major for a specific occupational position. (Example: Average starting salary for an economics graduate hired in the banking industry performing as a financial manager.) Occupational Position by Major Industry...pg. 46 This section contains the same information as Major by Occupational Position/Industry, but with the data rearranged. It first shows data by occupational position, then by the employers (industries) that hired specific majors. Industries and majors are both listed in alphabetical order. See this section when you need to know the average starting salary for a specific occupational position held by a graduate with a certain major. (Example: Average starting salary for an elementary or middle school teacher, who majored in mathematics.) Salary Survey 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The first report on starting salaries the college Class of 2012 kicks off with an increase in the average starting salary for bachelor s degree students. Overall, the average starting salary for a Class of 2012 graduate is $44,442 a 6.6 percent increase over the average salary reported for the Class of 2011 in the Winter 2012 Salary Survey report. However, much of that leap can be attributed to seasonal factors. A truer comparison can be made between median salaries for the Class of 2012 and 2011: As illustrated in Figure 1, the overall median salary for Class of 2012 grads is up 4.5 percent over the median posted for the Class of 2011. (Note: As salaries in this report have only been nominally adjusted for seasonality, this report uses median salaries not average salaries for comparison purposes.) figure 1 median salaries by discipline Broad Category 2012 Median Salary 2011 Median Salary Percent Change Business $47,748 $47,282 1.0% Communications $40,022 $38,549 3.8% Computer Science $56,383 $55,087 2.4% Education $37,423 $35,828 4.5% Engineering $58,581 $58,802-0.4% Health Sciences $43,477 $43,802-0.7% Humanities & Social Sciences $34,789 $34,630 0.5% Math & Sciences $40,939 $39,928 2.5% Overall $42,569 $40,735 4.5% BUSINESS The overall median salary for business majors as a group is up 1 percent to $47,748. While this appears to be a small increase, many of the individual majors report more substantial gains. For accounting majors, the median salary is up 2.8 percent to $47,800. Top employers for accounting grads include professional, scientific, and technical services (including accounting) firms, but wholesale employers offered top pay $51,500 on average. Business administration/management majors also saw an increase in their starting salaries. Their median salary rose 2.9 percent to $49,200. Employers in the finance and insurance industries reported the largest number of new grad entrants, with an average starting salary of $51,300. Highest pay, however, went to business administration grads who landed jobs in the finance and insurance industry; employers in this industry provided these grads with an average salary of $63,900. Among the business disciplines, economics graduates earn the highest starting salaries. Their median starting salary currently stands at $54,800, up 5.6 percent over last year s median of $51,900. They found the largest number of opportunities with finance and insurance employers; their highest starting salary $57,000 also came from these employers. Moreover, economics grads who landed jobs as financial managers in the finance/insurance industry saw their average salary top out at $64,000. Starting salaries to finance majors start the year 2.3 percent higher than last year: their current median salary is $49,700. Although their overall starting salary is lower than that of economics graduates, those who took jobs as financial managers outpaced their counterparts, earning an average starting salary of $66,000. There is also positive news for marketing majors: Their median salary is $49,600, up 3.8 percent. Those who found jobs in the information industry did substantially better, earning an average starting salary of $59,600. 4 Salary Survey
$75,000 $70,000 $65,000 $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 figure 2 salary ranges by discipline $68,461 $58,142 $47,748 $50,806 $40,022 $38,612 $32,160 $70,211 $58,581 $56,383 $49,815 $49,599 $46,917 $48,923 $43,232 $43,477 $41,939 $40,939 $37,423 $37,687 $32,233 $34,789 $34,298 $29,102 Business Communications Computer Science Education Engineering Health Sci. Humanities & Social Sci. Math & Science COMMUNICATIONS Students graduating in the communications fields also saw their overall starting salary bump up. As a group, their median starting salary rose 3.8 percent and now stands at $40,022. In this group, all majors advertising, communications, and journalism saw their starting salaries increase between 2 and 3 percent but many landed positions with more impressive starting salaries. For example, advertising majors who took management jobs in the management sector received an average starting salary of $59,400. COMPUTER SCIENCES Graduates within the computer sciences fields have starting salaries that are 2.4 percent higher this year; their overall median starting salary rose from $55,087 to $56,383. Employers in the information sector reported the highest number of new graduate entrants, with an impressive starting salary to boot $64,400. EDUCATION Of all the disciplines, those in the education fields saw the highest increase to their median starting salary, which rose 4.5 percent from $35,828 to $37,423. Within this group, starting salaries are highest for special education majors; their median salary now stands at $42,200, up 2.2 percent over last year. ENGINEERING The overall median salary for graduates in the engineering disciplines has changed little over last year. The current median salary is $58,581, down less than 1 percent from last year s median salary of $58,802. Computer engineering grads are the highest paid of the engineering disciplines, with a median salary of $67,800, a 0.6 percent increase over their Class of 2011 counterparts median salary. Right behind computer engineering graduates are aerospace engineering grads, who saw a 1.9 percent increase, bringing their median starting salary to $64,200. The median salary for civil engineering graduates had similar movement, rising 1.7 percent to $55,300. Bioengineering and chemical engineering students posted identical increases (1 percent); their median starting salaries are $41,800 and $63,000, respectively. Electrical engineering graduates saw the largest increase of the engineering disciplines a 2.7 percent increase, bringing their median starting salary to $57,300. The median starting salary to students majoring in mechanical engineering rose 1.6 percent and now stands at $58,600. HEALTH SCIENCES Salaries for health sciences graduates show little movement. Their overall median salary is down less than 1 percent from $43,802 to $43,477. Salary Survey 5
For nursing majors, the change is similar; their median starting salary rose just 0.6 percent from $48,100 to $48,400. For general health and related sciences majors, the median starting salary rose 1.7 percent to $36,400. HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES For graduates in the humanities and social sciences fields, starting salaries have remained relatively stable. The overall median salary to the group is up 0.5 percent from $34,630 to $34,789. All of the individual majors in this group posted increases to their median starting salaries, but visual and performing arts majors saw the biggest increase in this category. Their median starting salary rose 2.1 percent to $34,800. However, within this group, political science majors posted the highest median salary, $38,400, a 1.3 percent increase over last year. Overall, the education services industry was the biggest employer of humanities and social sciences grads (with an average starting salary of $37,800) providing the largest number of opportunities for English, foreign language, history, liberal arts, political science, and psychology majors. Criminal justice majors were most likely to be hired by government employers, and social work and sociology majors had the most new graduate entrants to the healthcare and social assistance industries. Retail trade was the single-biggest industry for visual and performing arts majors, with an average salary of just $26,000. By industry, top pay for humanities and social sciences majors, however, came from management companies, which provided them with an average starting salary of $43,500. Among the humanities/social sciences, top pay by position was reported for political science graduates for financial manager positions within the professional, scientific and technical services industry an average of $61,900. Next in line were visual and performing arts graduates hired by retailers for marketing or sales manager positions; their average salary is $56,500. MATH AND SCIENCES The overall median salary for graduates earning math and sciences degrees has increased modestly by 2.5 percent to $40,939. Within the individual fields, construction science/management graduates saw a 1.9 percent increase to their median salary, bringing it to $54,700. All of their top-employing industries, construction firms, professional, scientific and technical services employers, and government employers reported average salaries that topped $55,000. While mathematics majors saw a 1.5 percent increase to their median starting salary, now standing at $47,000, they also had three of their top-employing industries paying average starting salaries of more than $50,000. Overall, the first look at salaries for the Class of 2012 is promising. The Fall 2012 Salary Survey, to be published in September, will provide the next look at salaries for these graduates. SALARY SURVEY ONLINE New web-based tool from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. NOW AVAILABLE! Access national and regional salary data for new college grads on the fly Get detailed information by industry and occupation Featuring employer-reported salary data updated bimonthly Learn More: www.naceweb.org/salary-survey-data/ Salary Survey Online, available to NACE organizational members and Salary Survey subscribers, is the companion to the Salary Survey Report and provides users with access to more data and more-detailed data. 6 Salary Survey
top-paying industries The chart below shows the top five industries that paid the highest starting salaries to 2012 bachelor s degree graduates, regardless of major. The number of new graduate entrants reported by each particular industry is also listed here. 63,000 $64,400 Average Starting Salary 57,000 51,000 $54,392 $53,006 $51,874 $51,110 $45,000 120,000 71,000 120,000 42,000 124,000 Utilities Information Manufacturing Management of Companies and Enterprises Finance & Insurance Top-Paying Industries/Number of New Grad Entrants INDUSTRY DEFINITIONS Utilities: The utilities sector comprises establishments engaged in the provision of the following utility services electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal. Information: The information sector comprises establishments engaged in the following processes: 1) producing and distributing information and cultural products, 2) providing the means to transmit or distribute these products, as well as data or communications, and 3) processing data. (Example: software publishers) Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. Management of Companies and Enterprises: This sector comprises 1) establishments that hold the securities of companies and enterprises for the purpose of owning a controlling interest or influencing management decisions, or 2) establishments that administer, oversee, and manage establishments of the company or enterprise. Finance & Insurance: This sector includes establishments primarily engaged in financial transactions and/or in facilitating financial transactions. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2007. www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ Salary Survey 7
top-hiring industries This chart shows the top five industries that reported the highest number of new graduate entrants for 2012 bachelor s degree graduates, regardless of major. The average starting salary reported by each particular industry is also listed here. 300,000 298,000 Number of New Grad Entrants 200,000 100,000 0 Educational Services 180,000 Healthcare & Social Assistance 153,000 Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services 124,000 120,000 $38,329 $39,512 $47,880 $51,110 $53,006 Finance & Insurance Top-Hiring Industries/Average Starting Salaries Manufacturing INDUSTRY DEFINITIONS Educational Services: This sector comprises establishments that provide instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects. The instruction and training is provided by establishments such as schools, colleges, universities, and training centers. Healthcare & Social Assistance: The Healthcare & Social Assistance sector comprises establishments providing health care and social assistance for individuals. The sector includes both health care and social assistance because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the boundaries of these two activities. Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services: This sector comprises establishments that specialize in performing professional, scientific, and technical activities for others. These activities require a high degree of expertise and training. (Examples accounting, bookkeeping, payroll services, architectural, engineering, and computer services.) Finance & Insurance: This sector includes establishments primarily engaged in financial transactions and/or in facilitating financial transactions. Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2007. www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ 8 Salary Survey
starting salary by academic MAJOR bachelor s degrees Academic Major Median Starting Salary 2012 2011 Percent Change in Starting Salaries 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile AGRICULTURE and NATURAL RESOURCES MAJORS Agricultural Business and Management * * * * * * Animal Sciences * * * * * * Conservation/Renewable Natural Resources * * * * * * Plant Sciences * * * * * * Other Agricultural Sciences * * * * * * BUSINESS MAJORS Accounting $47,800 $46,500 2.8% $39,000 $47,800 $55,400 Actuarial Science * * * * * * Business Administration/Management $49,200 $47,800 2.9% $39,600 $49,200 $61,100 Business Systems Networking/ Telecommunications * * * * * * Economics (Business/Managerial) $54,800 $51,900 5.6% $43,900 $54,800 $66,300 Finance $49,700 $48,600 2.3% $40,100 $49,700 $59,900 Hospitality Services Management $31,700 $31,100 1.9% $26,600 $31,700 $35,700 Human Resources (incl. labor/ industrial relations) * * * * * * International Business $31,200 $31,200 0.0% $25,400 $31,200 $38,400 Logistics/Materials Management * * * * * * Management Information Systems/ Business Data Processing Marketing/Marketing Mgmt. (incl. mktg. research) * * * * * * $49,600 $47,800 3.8% $40,100 $49,600 $63,100 $70,000 $65,000 $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 salary ranges BUSINESS MAJORS $66,300 $61,100 $63,100 $59,900 $55,400 $54,800 $49,200 $49,600 $47,800 $49,700 $43,900 $39,000 $39,600 $40,100 $38,400 $40,100 $35,700 $31,700 $31,200 $26,600 $25,400 Accounting Business Administration Economics Finance Hospitality Services Mgmt. International Business Marketing *Not currently available. Salary Survey 9
starting salary by academic MAJOR bachelor s degrees Academic Major Median Starting Salary 2012 2011 Percent Change in Starting Salaries 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile COMMUNICATIONS MAJORS Advertising $44,700 $43,600 2.5% $35,900 $44,700 $58,000 Broadcast Journalism * * * * * * Communications $39,400 $38,500 2.3% $32,300 $39,400 $50,300 Journalism $37,500 $36,500 2.7% $29,400 $37,500 $46,400 Public Relations/Organizational Communications * * * * * * COMPUTER SCIENCES MAJORS Computer Programming * * * * * * Computer Science $58,300 $55,900 4.3% $48,500 $58,300 $70,500 Computer Systems Analysis * * * * * * Information Sciences and Systems $52,000 $49,600 4.8% $43,300 $52,000 $63,800 EDUCATION MAJORS Elementary Teacher Education $35,800 $35,200 1.7% $31,200 $35,800 $41,600 Physical Education Teaching/ Coaching $40,100 $39,500 1.5% $34,000 $40,100 $46,100 Pre-Elementary Teacher Education $32,400 $31,700 2.2% $28,300 $32,400 $37,800 Secondary Education $38,600 $37,900 1.8% $33,200 $38,600 $44,800 Special Education $42,200 $41,300 2.2% $35,500 $42,200 $47,600 Specific Academic/Vocational Teacher Education $38,900 $38,300 1.6% $33,400 $38,900 $45,000 ENGINEERING MAJORS Aerospace/Aeronautical/ Astronautical Engineering $64,200 $63,000 1.9% $54,900 $64,200 $78,400 Agricultural Engineering * * * * * * Architectural Engineering * * * * * * Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering $41,800 $41,400 1.0% $31,500 $41,800 $52,000 Chemical Engineering $63,000 $62,400 1.0% $53,200 $63,000 $74,500 Civil Engineering $55,300 $54,400 1.7% $47,300 $55,300 $66,100 Computer Engineering $67,800 $67,400 0.6% $55,400 $67,800 $79,000 Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering $57,300 $55,800 2.7% $48,300 $57,300 $70,200 Engineering Technology * * * * * * Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering * * * * * * Industrial Production Technologies * * * * * * Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering * * * * * * *Not currently available. 10 Salary Survey
starting salary by academic MAJOR bachelor s degrees Academic Major Median Starting Salary 2012 2011 Percent Change in Starting Salaries 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile ENGINEERING MAJORS (continued) Materials Engineering * * * * * * Mechanical Engineering $58,600 $57,700 1.6% $48,500 $58,600 $70,300 Metallurgical Engineering (incl. ceramic science/eng.) Mining and Mineral Engineering (incl. geological) Nuclear Engineering (incl. engineering physics) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ocean Engineering * * * * * * Petroleum Engineering * * * * * * Systems Engineering * * * * * * Textile Sciences and Engineering $57,300 $56,600 1.2% $47,800 $57,300 $68,800 HEALTH SCIENCES Health and Related Sciences $36,400 $35,800 1.7% $31,200 $36,400 $41,500 Nursing $48,400 $48,100 0.6% $42,200 $48,400 $55,600 HOME ECONOMICS MAJORS Clothing/Apparel/Textile Studies (incl. textile science) * * * * * * Home Economics $29,200 $28,500 2.5% $25,000 $29,200 $33,600 HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES MAJORS Criminal Justice and Corrections $30,800 $30,600 0.7% $25,800 $30,800 $36,600 English Language and Literature/ Letters $36,900 $36,300 1.7% $30,900 $36,900 $45,300 $85,000 $75,000 $65,000 $55,000 $45,000 $35,000 $25,000 salary ranges ENGINEERING MAJORS $79,000 $78,400 $74,500 $70,200 $70,300 $68,800 $64,200 $66,100 $67,800 $57,300 $58,600 $63,000 $55,300 $54,900 $52,000 $55,400 $53,200 $57,300 $48,300 $48,500 $47,300 $47,800 $41,800 $31,500 Aerospace Biomedical Chemical Civil Computer Electrical Engineering Mechanical Textile Science *Not currently available. Salary Survey 11
starting salary by academic MAJOR bachelor s degrees Academic Major Median Starting Salary 2012 2011 Percent Change in Starting Salaries 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES MAJORS (continued) Foreign Languages and Literatures $37,400 $36,800 1.6% $31,700 $37,400 $42,600 History $37,500 $37,000 1.4% $32,400 $37,500 $43,800 Liberal Arts and Sciences/ General Studies $38,300 $37,600 1.9% $33,100 $38,300 $44,300 Political Science/Government $38,400 $37,900 1.3% $31,700 $38,400 $46,400 Psychology $33,500 $33,100 1.2% $28,100 $33,500 $40,200 Social Work $33,300 $32,700 1.8% $27,100 $33,300 $38,300 Sociology $31,700 $31,500 0.6% $26,700 $31,700 $37,900 Visual and Performing Arts $34,800 $34,100 2.1% $28,900 $34,800 $43,800 Other Humanities $35,800 $35,200 1.7% $29,000 $35,800 $43,400 Other Social Sciences $36,100 $35,300 2.3% $30,300 $36,100 $44,800 PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE & FITNESS MAJORS Parks/Recreation, Leisure/Fitness Studies and related programs $26,700 $26,300 1.5% $22,900 $26,700 $31,200 SCIENCES MAJORS Architecture and Related Programs $38,200 $37,800 1.1% $32,500 $38,200 $46,700 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences $38,300 $37,900 1.1% $31,700 $38,300 $46,400 Chemistry $42,600 $42,500 0.2% $34,200 $42,600 $54,600 Construction Science/ Management $54,700 $53,700 1.9% $46,800 $54,700 $65,700 Environmental Sciences/Studies * * * * * * Geological and Related Sciences * * * * * * Mathematics (incl. statistics) $47,000 $46,300 1.5% $39,200 $47,000 $55,300 $50,000 salary ranges HUMANITIES MAJORS $45,000 $45,300 $42,600 $43,800 $44,300 $43,800 $40,000 $36,600 $37,400 $37,500 $38,300 $35,000 $34,800 $30,000 $25,000 $32,400 $33,100 $30,900 $31,700 $28,900 English Foreign Languages History Liberal Arts/General Studies Visual and Performing Arts 12 Salary Survey
starting salary by academic MAJOR bachelor s degrees Academic Major Median Starting Salary 2012 2011 Percent Change in Starting Salaries 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile SCIENCES MAJORS (continued) Physics $32,900 $32,800 0.3% $26,800 $32,900 $43,700 Other Physical Sciences $41,700 $41,200 1.2% $36,700 $41,700 $48,600 $50,000 $45,000 salary ranges social SCIENCEs MAJORS $46,400 $37,900 $40,000 $35,000 $36,600 $30,800 $38,400 $33,500 $40,200 $33,300 $38,300 $31,700 $30,000 $25,000 $31,700 $28,100 $25,800 $27,100 $26,700 Criminal Justice Political Science Psychology Social Work Sociology $65,000 $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $25,000 salary ranges MATH & SCIENCE MAJORS $54,600 $65,700 $54,700 $55,300 $46,700 $46,400 $47,000 $42,600 $46,800 $43,700 $38,200 $38,300 $39,200 $32,500 $34,200 $32,900 $31,700 $26,800 Architecture Biology Chemistry Construction Science Math/Statistics Physics *Not currently available. Salary Survey 13
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary BUSINESS MAJORS Accounting Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (Incl. Accounting) 22,000 $49,300 Finance and Insurance 12,000 $49,600 Manufacturing 8,000 $50,800 Management of Companies and Enterprises 7,000 $49,900 Wholesale Trade 5,000 $51,500 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $47,800 Business Administration/Management Finance and Insurance 21,000 $51,300 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 15,000 $55,200 Manufacturing 11,000 $54,400 Wholesale Trade 10,000 $53,700 Health Care and Social Assistance 9,000 $46,200 Management of Companies and Enterprises 8,000 $54,400 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 6,000 $44,500 Educational Services 5,000 $44,400 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $51,400 Economics (Business/Managerial) Finance and Insurance 21,000 $57,000 Wholesale Trade 4,000 $60,000 Educational Services 4,000 $47,100 Manufacturing 3,000 $60,300 Information 2,000 $63,800 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $59,500 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $60,000 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $56,700 Finance Finance and Insurance 33,000 $50,900 Manufacturing 6,000 $53,700 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 4,000 $53,200 Wholesale Trade 3,000 $53,900 Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,000 $53,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $49,900 14 Salary Survey
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Hospitality Services Management Accommodation and Food Services 12,000 $33,400 Educational Services 3,000 $31,400 International Business Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 6,000 $36,500 Finance and Insurance 3,000 $35,900 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 3,000 $29,000 Educational Services 3,000 $32,800 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $36,200 Construction 2,000 $29,700 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $30,600 Marketing/Marketing Mgmt. (incl. mktg. research) Finance and Insurance 10,000 $53,100 Manufacturing 9,000 $55,200 Retail Trade 9,000 $38,300 Wholesale Trade 6,000 $54,300 Information 5,000 $59,600 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 4,000 $56,700 Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,000 $55,300 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $52,000 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 2,000 $42,800 COMMUNICATIONS MAJORS Advertising Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 7,000 $52,400 Retail Trade 3,000 $35,800 Manufacturing 2,000 $51,200 Wholesale Trade 2,000 $48,800 Information 2,000 $49,300 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $50,700 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $42,200 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 2,000 $45,300 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $50,000 Educational Services 1,000 $44,800 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $53,300 Salary Survey 15
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Communications Manufacturing 8,000 $45,600 Retail Trade 7,000 $30,300 Educational Services 7,000 $39,600 Wholesale Trade 5,000 $42,800 Information 3,000 $44,400 Health Care and Social Assistance 3,000 $37,500 Finance and Insurance 2,000 $43,600 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $46,200 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $44,600 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $34,700 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 1,000 $39,900 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $45,500 Journalism Information 12,000 $39,200 Manufacturing 5,000 $41,900 Retail Trade 5,000 $27,200 Educational Services 4,000 $38,900 Wholesale Trade 3,000 $39,700 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $42,700 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 2,000 $33,000 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $40,200 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 1,000 $38,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $45,900 COMPUTER SCIENCES MAJORS Computer Science Information 23,000 $64,400 Finance and Insurance 2,000 $63,800 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $60,000 Educational Services 2,000 $48,400 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $62,500 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $55,200 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $64,500 16 Salary Survey
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Information Sciences and Systems Information 7,000 $56,900 Educational Services 2,000 $44,700 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $57,000 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,000 $53,400 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $56,000 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $46,700 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $66,000 EDUCATION MAJORS Elementary Teacher Education Educational Services 37,000 $38,500 Health Care and Social Assistance 5,000 $29,900 Physical Education Teaching/Coaching Educational Services 13,000 $41,600 Pre-Elementary Teacher Education Educational Services 12,000 $37,000 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $23,700 Secondary Education Educational Services 4,000 $39,900 Special Education Educational Services 8,000 $45,900 Health Care and Social Assistance 5,000 $37,100 Specific Academic/Vocational Teacher Education Educational Services 20,000 $40,400 Health Care and Social Assistance 1,000 $27,400 ENGINEERING MAJORS Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Manufacturing 3,000 $64,900 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $69,200 Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 6,000 $43,200 Chemical Engineering Manufacturing 10,000 $64,100 Salary Survey 17
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Chemical Engineering (continued) Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $64,500 Civil Engineering Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 11,000 $55,800 Construction 7,000 $56,500 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $59,800 Utilities 2,000 $64,200 Manufacturing 2,000 $54,500 Computer Engineering Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 9,000 $67,900 Information 3,000 $73,400 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $70,200 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $72,200 Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering Manufacturing 9,000 $57,500 Information 3,000 $59,100 Computer Engineering $67,800 $67,400 0.6% 2012 Median Salary 2011 Median Salary Top Industries: $67,900 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 9,000 new grad entrants $73,400 Information 3,000 new grad entrants $70,200 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 new grad entrants $72,200 Finance and Insurance 1,000 new grad entrants 18 Salary Survey
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering (continued) Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $57,500 Utilities 1,000 $61,500 Wholesale Trade 1,000 $57,900 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $61,800 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $60,900 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $64,400 Mechanical Engineering Manufacturing 20,000 $57,700 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $59,600 Utilities 1,000 $66,400 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $65,300 Textile Sciences and Engineering Manufacturing 2,000 $55,800 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $56,600 Utilities 1,000 $65,700 Construction 1,000 $57,800 Information 1,000 $61,600 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $60,600 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $59,000 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $61,900 HEALTH SCIENCES MAJORS Health and Related Sciences Health Care and Social Assistance 24,000 $38,200 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,000 $32,900 Educational Services 2,000 $39,000 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $44,100 Retail Trade 1,000 $29,300 Nursing Health Care and Social Assistance 46,000 $49,800 HOME ECONOMICS MAJORS Home Economics Health Care and Social Assistance 10,000 $22,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $32,500 Educational Services 1,000 $36,000 Salary Survey 19
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES MAJORS Criminal Justice and Corrections Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 27,000 $32,700 Accommodation and Food Services 4,000 $30,600 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 2,000 $28,000 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $31,400 Educational Services 1,000 $34,600 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 1,000 $28,800 English Language and Literature/Letters Educational Services 19,000 $37,600 Information 3,000 $37,900 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $40,700 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $34,100 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 2,000 $41,300 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $42,100 English Language and Literature/Letters $36,900 2012 Median Salary $36,300 2011 Median Salary 1.7% Top Industries: $37,600 Educational Services 19,000 new grad entrants $37,900 Information 3,000 new grad entrants $40,700 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 new grad entrants $34,100 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 new grad entrants $41,300 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 2,000 new grad entrants $42,100 Federal, State, and Local Government 1,000 new grad entrants 20 Salary Survey
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Foreign Languages and Literatures Educational Services 2,000 $38,700 Construction 1,000 $35,100 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $42,400 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,000 $41,500 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $35,400 Health Care and Social Assistance 1,000 $36,000 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $42,000 History Educational Services 11,000 $38,400 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $37,800 Manufacturing 1,000 $39,400 Wholesale Trade 1,000 $40,100 Finance and Insurance 1,000 $38,700 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $38,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $40,000 Liberal Arts and Sciences/General Studies Educational Services 14,000 $39,700 Political Science/Government Educational Services 9,000 $37,800 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 6,000 $40,200 Finance and Insurance 3,000 $38,900 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $43,100 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $43,500 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 2,000 $33,900 Manufacturing 1,000 $43,000 Health Care and Social Assistance 1,000 $36,000 Psychology Educational Services 44,000 $38,300 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 8,000 $37,200 Health Care and Social Assistance 8,000 $31,400 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 3,000 $32,100 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $36,100 Salary Survey 21
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Social Work Health Care and Social Assistance 14,000 $31,700 Educational Services 4,000 $37,000 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $35,500 Sociology Health Care and Social Assistance 4,000 $30,400 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,000 $37,200 Educational Services 3,000 $36,200 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $34,800 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 2,000 $28,700 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $28,700 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 1,000 $26,700 Visual and Performing Arts Retail Trade 23,000 $26,000 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 6,000 $27,800 Information 5,000 $39,600 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 4,000 $41,800 Manufacturing 3,000 $38,300 Finance and Insurance 3,000 $38,800 Wholesale Trade 2,000 $37,400 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $39,300 Educational Services 2,000 $35,600 Other Humanities Educational Services 5,000 $36,500 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,000 $37,700 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $35,600 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 1,000 $32,400 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $41,700 Other Social Sciences Educational Services 6,000 $37,100 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,000 $40,300 Health Care and Social Assistance 3,000 $34,800 Finance and Insurance 2,000 $39,300 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $40,200 22 Salary Survey
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Other Social Sciences (continued) Manufacturing 1,000 $40,500 Information 1,000 $42,200 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $40,200 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,000 $31,100 PARKS/RECREATION, LEISURE AND FITNESS MAJORS Parks/Recreation, Leisure/Fitness Studies and Related programs Educational Services 18,000 $27,100 Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government) 4,000 $26,300 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 3,000 $29,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 3,000 $27,100 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,000 $28,800 SCIENCES MAJORS Architecture and Related Programs Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 10,000 $39,100 Construction 4,000 $38,500 Retail Trade 3,000 $27,100 Manufacturing 2,000 $40,500 Wholesale Trade 2,000 $38,600 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $46,600 Information 1,000 $41,500 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 24,000 $40,800 Health Care and Social Assistance 17,000 $41,000 Educational Services 12,000 $36,500 Manufacturing 7,000 $42,100 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 3,000 $40,000 Management of Companies and Enterprises 2,000 $42,300 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $42,100 Chemistry Manufacturing 5,000 $47,400 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 4,000 $45,400 Educational Services 4,000 $35,000 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 2,000 $45,900 Salary Survey 23
top industries individual majors Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Chemistry (continued) Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $50,300 Construction Science/Management Construction 5,000 $56,300 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 2,000 $58,300 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $58,800 Major/Industry New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Mathematics (incl. statistics) Educational Services 5,000 $49,200 Finance and Insurance 4,000 $50,100 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,000 $48,400 Manufacturing 2,000 $50,500 Wholesale Trade 2,000 $51,400 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,000 $49,100 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 1,000 $44,300 Physics Educational Services 4,000 $33,700 Other Physical Sciences Health Care and Social Assistance 15,000 $43,000 Educational Services 3,000 $43,100 Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) 2,000 $44,500 GET THE LATEST SALARIES FOR INTERNS AND CO-OPS NACE s 2012 Compensation Guide for Interns & Co-ops RESEARCH $150 NACE Member $225 Nonmember Price For details, contanct NACE: 800.544.5272 Need customized data for interns or co-ops? Contact NACE Research. 2012 Compensation Guide for Interns & Co-ops National Association of Colleges and Employers 62 Highland Avenue Bethlehem, PA 18017-9085 800/544-5272 FAX: 610/868-0208 www.naceweb.org Copyright April 2012 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers 24 Salary Survey
top Majors individual industries Industry/Major New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Accommodation and Food Services Hospitality Services Management 12,000 $33,400 Criminal Justice and Corrections 4,000 $30,600 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services Business Administration/Management 6,000 $44,500 Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 6,000 $43,200 International Business 3,000 $29,000 Psychology 3,000 $32,100 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences 3,000 $40,000 Marketing/Marketing Mgmt. (incl. mktg. research) 2,000 $42,800 Criminal Justice and Corrections 2,000 $28,000 Political Science/Government 2,000 $33,900 Chemistry 2,000 $45,900 Communications 1,000 $34,700 Computer Science 1,000 $55,200 Information Sciences and Systems 1,000 $46,700 Foreign Languages and Literatures 1,000 $35,400 Sociology 1,000 $28,700 Other Social Sciences 1,000 $31,100 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Visual and Performing Arts 6,000 $27,800 Parks/Recreation, Leisure/Fitness Studies and related programs 3,000 $29,600 Journalism 2,000 $33,000 Sociology 2,000 $28,700 Construction Civil Engineering 7,000 $56,500 Construction Science/Management 5,000 $56,300 Architecture and Related Programs 4,000 $38,500 International Business 2,000 $29,700 Textile Sciences and Engineering 1,000 $57,800 Foreign Languages and Literatures 1,000 $35,100 Educational Services Psychology 44,000 $38,300 Elementary Teacher Education 37,000 $38,500 Specific Academic/Vocational Teacher Education 20,000 $40,400 Salary Survey 25
top Majors individual industries Industry/Major New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Educational Services (continued) English Language and Literature/Letters 19,000 $37,600 Parks/Recreation, Leisure/Fitness Studies and related programs 18,000 $27,100 Liberal Arts and Sciences/General Studies 14,000 $39,700 Physical Education Teaching/Coaching 13,000 $41,600 Pre-Elementary Teacher Education 12,000 $37,000 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences 12,000 $36,500 History 11,000 $38,400 Political Science/Government 9,000 $37,800 Special Education 8,000 $45,900 Communications 7,000 $39,600 Other Social Sciences 6,000 $37,100 Business Administration/Management 5,000 $44,400 Other Humanities 5,000 $36,500 Mathematics (incl. statistics) 5,000 $49,200 Economics (Business/Managerial) 4,000 $47,100 Journalism 4,000 $38,900 Secondary Education 4,000 $39,900 Specific Academic/Vocational Teacher Education 4,000 $39,600 Social Work 4,000 $37,000 Chemistry 4,000 $35,000 Physics 4,000 $33,700 Hospitality Services Management 3,000 $31,400 International Business 3,000 $32,800 Sociology 3,000 $36,200 Other Physical Sciences 3,000 $43,100 Computer Science 2,000 $48,400 Information Sciences and Systems 2,000 $44,700 Health and Related Sciences 2,000 $39,000 Foreign Languages and Literatures 2,000 $38,700 Visual and Performing Arts 2,000 $35,600 Advertising 1,000 $44,800 Home Economics 1,000 $36,000 Criminal Justice and Corrections 1,000 $34,600 26 Salary Survey
top Majors individual industries Industry/Major New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) Criminal Justice and Corrections 27,000 $32,700 Accounting 3,000 $47,800 Business Administration/Management 3,000 $51,400 International Business 3,000 $36,200 Marketing/Marketing Mgmt. (incl. mktg. research) 3,000 $52,000 Civil Engineering 3,000 $59,800 Home Economics 3,000 $32,500 Political Science/Government 3,000 $43,100 Psychology 3,000 $36,100 Social Work 3,000 $35,500 Sociology 3,000 $34,800 Parks/Recreation, Leisure/Fitness Studies and related programs 3,000 $27,100 Economics (Business/Managerial) 2,000 $56,700 Health and Related Sciences 2,000 $44,100 Other Social Sciences 2,000 $40,200 Architecture and Related Programs 2,000 $46,600 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences 2,000 $42,100 Construction Science/Management 2,000 $58,800 Other Physical Sciences 2,000 $44,500 Finance 1,000 $49,900 Advertising 1,000 $53,300 Communications 1,000 $45,500 Journalism 1,000 $45,900 Computer Science 1,000 $64,500 Information Sciences and Systems 1,000 $66,000 Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering 1,000 $64,400 Mechanical Engineering 1,000 $65,300 Textile Sciences and Engineering 1,000 $61,900 English Language and Literature/Letters 1,000 $42,100 Foreign Languages and Literatures 1,000 $42,000 History 1,000 $40,000 Other Humanities 1,000 $41,700 Chemistry 1,000 $50,300 Mathematics (incl. statistics) 1,000 $44,300 Salary Survey 27
top Majors individual industries Industry/Major New Grad Entrants 2012 Average Salary Finance and Insurance Finance 33,000 $50,900 Business Administration/Management 21,000 $51,300 Economics (Business/Managerial) 21,000 $57,000 Accounting 12,000 $49,600 Marketing/Marketing Mgmt. (incl. mktg. research) 10,000 $53,100 Mathematics (incl. statistics) 4,000 $50,100 International Business 3,000 $35,900 Political Science/Government 3,000 $38,900 Visual and Performing Arts 3,000 $38,800 Communications 2,000 $43,600 Computer Science 2,000 $63,800 Other Social Sciences 2,000 $39,300 Advertising 1,000 $50,000 Journalism 1,000 $40,200 Information Sciences and Systems 1,000 $57,000 Computer Engineering 1,000 $72,200 Electrical/Electronics and Communications Engineering 1,000 $61,800 Textile Sciences and Engineering 1,000 $60,600 Foreign Languages and Literatures 1,000 $42,400 History 1,000 $38,700 Health Care and Social Assistance Nursing 46,000 $49,800 Health and Related Sciences 24,000 $38,200 Biological Sciences/Life Sciences 17,000 $41,000 Other Physical Sciences 15,000 $43,000 Social Work 14,000 $31,700 Home Economics 10,000 $22,600 Business Administration/Management 9,000 $46,200 Psychology 8,000 $31,400 Elementary Teacher Education 5,000 $29,900 Special Education 5,000 $37,100 Sociology 4,000 $30,400 Communications 3,000 $37,500 Other Social Sciences 3,000 $34,800 28 Salary Survey