By Geoff Roth
If you're a recent college graduate and have been fortunate enough to land a job, that is good news. But, there is a bit of a black cloud around that silver lining.
According to a new survey, the average starting salary for new college grads slipped this year, down 1.3 percent from last year.
The survey, done by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, shows that the average starting salary across all disciplines was at $48,661, down from an average of $49,307 last year.
But, as is the case with hiring trends, all degrees and disciplines are not equal. Students with degrees in information sciences saw a hefty increase from last year, up 5.7 percent, at an average starting salary of $55,084. And, it may not come as a surprise that those with liberal arts degrees saw the biggest slide from last year, down 3.9 percent to $34,747.
According to the survey, the highest starting salaries are still going to students with computer engineering degrees, at an average of $59,917. But, that average was down 2.9 percent from last year.
Another organization that monitors starting salaries, Payscale, doesn't look at the ups and downs of salary levels, but does keep track of averages. According to their latest report, students with chemical engineering degrees are bringing in the highest average starting salary, at $65,700.
While average salaries are down in the United States recent grads in China are starting to feel the effects of a growing economy. According to a recent survey by one of China's largest human resource companies, the average salary for college graduates in China rose 10 percent this year. But, to put things in perspective, that average salary is the equivalent of around $4,800 a year.
