February 27, 2008
BETHLEHEM, PA—Engineering services and accounting firms are among the employers showing the most interest in this year’s crop of new college graduates, according to the Winter 2008 issue of Salary Survey, a quarterly report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
“We are also seeing a lot of interest from consulting, financial services, retail, and petroleum products companies,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director.
Figure 1: Top employers for 2007-08 new college graduates*
| Employer Type |
Average Annual Salary Offer |
| Engineering Services |
$56,114
|
| Accounting Services |
$49,085
|
| Consulting Services |
$55,262
|
| Financial Services |
$47,881
|
| Retain/Wholesale Trade |
$39,586
|
| Petroleum & Coal Products |
$59,227
|
In many cases, these employers also offer substantial starting salaries to their new college graduate hires.
“For example, the average yearly salary offer from petroleum manufacturers is more than $59,000, and engineering firms are extending an average offer that exceeds $56,000,” says Mackes. (See Figure 1.)
Not surprisingly, engineering services employers showed most interest in graduates with engineering degrees, notably mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as those with computer science degrees. Other top employers, however, expressed interest in graduates in a variety of disciplines.
“Consulting employers and retailers both made offers to a wide range of graduates,” says Mackes. “In many cases, their opportunities are not dependent on a specific degree. For example, retailers showed most interest in business-related degrees, but also made offers to graduates with degrees in liberal arts and science.”
* Source: Winter 2008 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers. Data are for bachelor’s degree candidates and is based on the number of offers reported.
About Salary Survey:Salary Survey is a quarterly report of starting salary offers to new college graduates in 70 disciplines at the bachelor's degree level. The survey compiles data from college and university career services offices nationwide. Salary Survey is issued in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, with the Fall issue serving as the year-end report. Data reported in this press release reflect offers to bachelor’s degree candidates and are from the Winter report; the Spring report will be published in April. In addition, NACE will release an update on the job market for the Class of 2008 in mid-March.
About NACE: Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has been the leading source of information about the college job market. NACE maintains a virtual press room for the media. NACE is headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
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