Top Paying Industries for Class of 2011

Securities employers provided the highest average starting salary for Class of ’11 graduates at the bachelor’s degree level, according to a new report published by the National Association of College and Employers (NACE).

NACE’s Winter 2012 Salary Survey shows that securities employers paid an average starting salary of $58,571. Overall, these employers provided jobs to 42,000 Class of 2011 grads.

Electric power companies followed with an average starting salary of $56,780. Rounding out the top five were:

• Firms involved in non-depository credit/related activities ($53,825)
• Computer systems design ($53,547)
• Business support services ($50,280)

Among the top five, computer systems design companies provided the greatest number of opportunities, accounting for 50,000 jobs for 2011 grads, or approximately 3% of the estimated 1.69 million bachelor’s degrees conferred.

The overall average salary for Class of 2011 graduates is up to $41,701, 2.3% higher than the Class of 2010 average of $40,766.