Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Engineering Graduates Again in Great Shape

May 9, 2008

Engineering Graduates Again in Great Shape

Once again engineering and computer science graduates are receiving the highest starting salaries. Previous posts: Lucrative college degrees (2006) - starting salaries for engineers (2005) - High Pay for Engineering Graduates 2007.

According to a survey, these are the top-paying majors for 2007-08 bachelor degree graduates:
$63,616 — Chemical engineering (up 6.5%)
$59,962 — Computer engineering
$59,873 — Computer science (up 14.7%)
$58,252 — Industrial/manufacturing engineering
$57,821 — Mechanical engineering (up 5.7%)
$57,999 — Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering

Source: Spring Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Engineering Jobs Top U.S. Skills Shortage List

Engineering positions are the most difficult jobs to fill for U.S. employers, according to Manpower Inc.’s 2008 Talent Shortage Survey released April 24. Of 2,000 U.S. firms responding, 22% said they had difficulty filling positions, ranking engineers, machinists/machine operators and skilled manual trades as the top three toughest positions to fill, respectively

Grads’ job prospects weakening by degrees

In one year, the former hydraulic repairman will have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University Calumet. And, as far as he can tell, he can write his own ticket.

“I’m finding jobs pulling at me left and right,” he said last week at a manufacturing industry job fair at the college. “The professors told us there’s such a demand, if you go to a job fair, you can walk out with a job.”

Vela, 35, happens to be in a field where demand remains strong, despite the uneven economy. Overall starting wages for mechanical engineering grads will be up 3.4 percent this year, with an average salary offer of $56,429, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. For many other college grads looking for a job at this time of year, the prospects are not as sweet.

Starting salaries: What the future holds (UK)

It certainly pays to be a scientist. The statistics show that eight out of the highest 10 starting salaries go to graduates with science-related degrees. The other categories that do all right are graduates of economics and social work. The average starting salary for economics graduates is £24,466 and for social workers £22,560. Salaries for mathematics graduates are also firmly in the top 20.

It really does make sense to go into engineering, if you have the right A-levels because most engineering degrees lead to well-paid jobs. The aspiring chemical engineer can earn £25,136, and the civil engineer £22,392 in their first job. Engineering is better paid than computer science, widely regarded as a sensible option for those who are interested in technology.

IT graduate salaries Surge 17% in India over the last 2 years

Campus salaries in IT companies have jumped 17.6 per cent in the last two years across domains with 71 per cent of the students receiving salary between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

This year, the average annual IT services pay packets have risen to Rs 2.74 lakh taking it closer to the average annual product company compensation (Rs 4.63 lakh) in the country, though some product companies pay almost 70 per cent higher salaries than services companies.

In a campus compensation and student perception survey brought out by CareerNet, a Bangalore-based recruitment company, it was found that while in financial year 2007, about 44 per cent of the students took home a sub-Rs 3 lakh per annum pay packet, this year only 12.6 per cent received salaries less than Rs 3 lakh.

And 17 per cent of the students managed to get more than Rs 5 lakh annual salary. Graduate hiring across all companies have increased by almost 50 per cent. Last year, about 15-20 per cent of the campus hires in the Big Five Indian IT services firms were science or computer science graduate, while this year, almost 30 per cent of those hired will be graduates.

Demand high for technical grads

>The market for engineers is relatively high, especially for mechanical engineers,’ he said with confidence, citing the presence of large employers such as NASA in Huntsville that have a continuous need for engineers.
…
Participants in Shelton State’s technical programs, however, are unlikely to experience that problem anytime soon. Job Placement Center representative Mike Fields said about 95 percent of the 200 or so students about to graduate with two-year technical or associates degrees already have jobs. ‘On the technical side, the job market is still very, very strong, Fields said. ‘It’s been that way for some time.’

by curiouscat Tags: Career, Economics, Engineering, Students
Permalink to: Engineering Graduates Again in Great Shape Trackback: http://engineering.curiouscatblog.net/2008/05/09/engineering-graduates-again-in-great-shape/trackback/

6 Responses to “Engineering Graduates Again in Great Shape”

Anonymous Says:
May 10th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Very useful information. A bid discouraging though, I will finish my bachelors degree in december and it is not in one of the top fields. Thanks for the information.
Ray Barron Says:
May 11th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I’m glad to see the ‘Chemical engineering’ is up, due to me being a chemistry student. In the UK we’re still struggling with the fact that EVERYONE is now doing a ‘degree’. Unfortunately most people’s ‘degrees’ are on useless subjects that require little or no work to pass. This in turn is pulling down the authority of such degrees like mine.
Although currently I can’t see anything being done about it, it’s good to know that the average starting wages seem to be at a warranted level.
Anonymous Says:
May 14th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Hi,

What would you say guys if you worked in Poland? Computer Engineer earns 5-6 times less and prices are at the same level as in your country :/
Engineering Starting Salaries 2008 « World of Engineering Says:
May 20th, 2008 at 9:20 am
The National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, has just published its latest survey on starting salaries. Engineering fields again command the highest salaries…
Curious Cat: The Technology Job Market is Strong Says:
June 24th, 2008 at 10:10 am
“More than 850,000 IT jobs will be added during the 10-year period ending in 2016, which would be a rise of 24%. Add all the jobs that will replace retiring workers, and the total increase could be a tidy 1.6 million…”
Salaries with a College Degree at Curious Cat Investing and Economics Blog Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
“For decades, the typical college graduate’s wage rose well above inflation. But no longer…”