New survey touts Engineering Careers

Engineering Heads List of Majors With Highest Average Starting Salary Offers

In a job market that is seeing higher starting salary offers to new college graduates, engineering majors can expect to see the highest offers, on average, according to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Engineering majors garnered the four highest starting salary offers and five of the top-10 spots. "Seven of the top-10 majors with the highest starting salary offers saw increases in their offers over last year," says Marilyn Mackes, executive director of NACE, of the organization's Winter 2006 issue of Salary Survey.

"Engineering remains strong, and another high point comes for economics/finance graduates, who saw a spectacular 11-percent increase to their average starting salary offers."

The following majors have the highest salaries paid to 2005-06 graduates (average salary offers are in parentheses):

1. Chemical engineering ($55,900)
2. Computer engineering ($54,877)
3. Electrical/electronics and communications engineering, ($52,899)
4. Mechanical engineering ($50,672)
5. Computer science ($50,046)
6. Accounting ($45,723)
7. Economics/finance, including banking ($45,191)
8. Civil engineering ($44,999)
9. Business administration/management ($39,850)
10.Marketing/marketing management, including marketing research ($36,260)