![What is the Average Starting Salary Out Of College? [2026 Statistics]](https://jobera.com/resources/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/first-job.webp)
Ever thought about life beyond campus?
Curious about how the job market treats out-of-college candidates?
There has been a 1% or less annual increase in the average starting salaries of college graduates from 2015 to 2018.
2019 saw an average increment of 5.8% in the average starting salary of graduates.
The current average starting salary of out-of-college employees is $55,260.
Ready to turn your degree into dollars? Let’s explore the latest statistics on average starting salaries.
Top Starting Salary Out of College Statistics: Editor’s Pick
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science graduates are paid the highest salary of about $108,500. [1]
- Women expect to earn about $48,500 straight out of college, while men expect $74,000. [2]
- Some nursing and computer science students underestimate their salaries, while others usually overestimate. [2]
- The average starting salary of out-of-college employees is $55,260 in 2022 and 2023. [5]
- It is stated that Asian-American graduates have the highest starting salary at $75k. [7]
- White graduates have the highest employment percentage of 62.7%.
Average Starting Salary for College Graduates
Straight out of college and looking for good pay?
Your pay highly depends on your major and department. Let’s compare the highest and lowest-paying jobs by degree.
| Major | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering & Computer Science | $108,500 |
| Physician Assistant Studies | $95,900 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $93,200 |
| Operations Research | $83,500 |
| Computer Science & Business | $81,100 |
| Electronic Systems Technology | $81k |
| Welding Engineering | $81k |
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science graduates are paid the highest salary of about $108,500 with an experience of zero to five years. [1]
Other engineering majors including Nuclear Engineering Technology and Metallurgical Engineering are also paid up to $83k. [1]
Non-technical and non-engineering majors are paid less comparatively. Here is a list of some of the lowest-paying majors.
| Major | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Voice & Opera | $34,500 |
| Painting & Printmaking | $34,700 |
| Psychology & Human Services | $35,600 |
| Equine Studies | $35,700 |
| Rehabilitation Services | $35,800 |
| Medical Assisting | $36,000 |
| Early Childhood Education | $36,100 |
| Mental Health Counseling | $36,100 |
| Child and Family Studies | $36,400 |
| Biblical Studies & Practical Ministries | $36,400 |
Starting Salary Out of College Expectations Vs Reality
Students tend to overestimate their salaries after college by 23%. [2]
Get a reality check with these statistics!
Women expect to earn about $48,500 straight out of college, while men expect $74,000. [2]
Some nursing and computer science students underestimate their salaries, while others usually overestimate. [2]
Business majors have reported overestimating their average salaries from college by about $14,200. [2]
As computer Science is the highest in demand, the average salary has risen by $7000 more than expected. [2]
Source: Clever
Change in Average Salary Out of College Over Past Years
The average starting salary of out-of-college employees was recorded at $48,127 in 2014. [6]
There has been a 1% or less annual increase in the average starting salaries of college graduates from 2015 to 2018. [3]
2019 saw an average increment of 5.8% in the average starting salary of graduates. [4]
There has not been any significant change in salaries from 2019 to 2021. It was approximately $55k. [5]
The average starting salary of out-of-college employees is $55,260 in 2022 and 2023. [5]
Average Starting Salary Out of College By Demographics
Are you living in a suitable place to be paid well? Let’s check it out!
The mid-Atlantic region has recorded the highest average starting salary for college graduates, approximately $63k. [7]
The next in line is a west-Atlantic region with an average starting salary for graduates at $62k. [7]
It is stated that Asian-American graduates have the highest starting salary at $75k. [7]
Native American graduates have the lowest average starting salary at $53,528. [7]
Pacific Islander graduates are the second-lowest paid graduates about $53,844. [7]
Hispanic–American graduates have the third-lowest salary at $55,833 and an employment percentage of 57.3%. [7]
White graduates have the highest employment percentage of 62.7%.
Native American students have the second highest rate at 60.3%.
Source: NACE
What is the average starting out-of-college salary of women?
Women have always faced gender discrimination in the workplace.
- The average starting salary of females out of college is about $52k. [8]
- While the average salary of males out of college is about $64k. [8]
- The average starting salary of nonbinary students who graduated in 2021 was about $50k. [8]
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FAQs
What is the average starting salary out of college?
The average starting salary was $55,260 in 2023.
How much do out-of-college people overestimate about their salaries?
College graduates believe they would earn up to $104,000 at their first job which is an overestimation.
Who earns the highest straight out of college?
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science graduates are paid the highest salary of about $108,500 with an experience of zero to five years.
Conclusion
How much can you make after completing the college degree? Well, it highly depends on your course. While in-demand majors like engineering and technical fields are paid good, others like
child and family studies, humanities, and biblical studies are low.
The average starting salary was $55,260 in 2023. If we look at the average starting salary of females out of college, it is about $52k. While the average salary of males out of college is about $64k.
Students usually tend to overestimate their future earnings straight out of college and get upset when they see the actual scenario. Pro tip- It’s helpful to go through the data first!
Sources
- Payscale. College Salary Report: Highest Paying Jobs with a Bachelor’s Degree
- Clever. Reality Check: Exploring Unrealistic Undergraduate Salary Expectations
- NACE. Class of 2017’s Overall Starting Salary Shows Little Gain
- NACE. Average Salary for Class of 2019 Up Almost 6 Percent Over Class of 2018’s
- NACE. Salaries for College Graduates Climb Even in the Face of the Pandemic
- NACE. Overall Starting Salary for Class of 2015 Graduates Up 4.3 Percent
- NACE. First Destinations for the College Class of 2021
- CNBC. More Education Doesn’t Always Get You More Money, Report Finds
