Average Starting Salary Up 5.3% for Class of 2013

Gains in health sciences, business boost average

The average starting salary for new college graduates earning bachelor’s degrees has increased 5.3% over last year, according to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

The report found that the average starting salary for the class of 2013 stands at $44,928, up from the 2012 average salary of $42,666.

“The sizable gains in several disciplines: particularly in health sciences and business: have helped to drive up the average starting salary for the class of 2013,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.

With an increase of 9.4%, health sciences saw the highest increase among the disciplines, bringing the average starting salary for these graduates to $49,713. Business also posted a large gain: 7.1%: bumping the average salary for business majors to $54,234.

Education and computer science also saw robust increases. The average starting salary for education majors climbed 5.1% to $40,480, while the average salary for computer science majors jumped to $59,977, 4.3% higher than last year.

Engineering (4.0%, to $62,535), communications (3.8%, to $43,145), and math and sciences (3.1%, to $42,724) all saw increases that exceeded 3%.

Meanwhile, graduates with degrees in humanities and social sciences saw the smallest gain (1.9%, to $37,058).

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