Class of 2020: Starting salary projections for top-earning degree holders
Early projections show that the salaries for the top-earning majors for the Class of 2020 have leveled off, according to a January 28 report released by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
NACE’s Winter 2020 Salary Survey reveals that starting salaries for engineering, computer science, and math and sciences majors appear to have flattened out – compared to the same time a year ago. It is important to note, however, that these projections come at an early point in the salary-reporting cycle for the Class of 2020.
Among those three disciplines, engineering majors have the largest change in average starting salary projections. The current projection for Class of 2020 engineering graduates is $69,961, which is up just 1.1 percent from last year’s salary projection at this time. (See Figure 1.)
The average salary projections for Class of 2020 computer science (down 0.2 percent to $67,411) and math and sciences (up 0.5 percent to $62,488) graduates are consistent with the projections last year at this time.
Likewise, business ($57,939) and social sciences ($57,425) majors are also projected to see salaries in line with last year’s projections, while communications graduates ($56,484) from the Class of 2020 are expected to see the largest increase in average starting salaries—8.5 percent.
Meanwhile, salaries for humanities ($53,617) and agriculture and natural resources ($53,504) graduates are projected to be down 5.4 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively.
Figure 1: Average salaries by discipline, bachelor’s degrees
| Broad Category | 2020 Salary Projection | 2019 Salary Projection | % Change |
| Engineering | $69,961 | $69,188 | 1.1% |
| Computer Science | $67,411 | $67,539 | -0.2% |
| Math & Sciences | $62,488 | $62,177 | 0.5% |
| Business | $57,939 | $57,657 | 0.5% |
| Social Sciences | $57,425 | $57,310 | 0.2% |
| Communications | $56,484 | $52,056 | 8.5% |
| Humanities | $53,617 | $56,651 | -5.4% |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | $53,504 | $55,750 | -4.0% |
(Source: Winter 2020 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers)
Also See:
- Class of 2020 college grads looking at a robust job market
- College Class of 2020: Employers plan to increase college hiring by nearly 6 percent
- Early reports show that STEM majors’ salaries lead for the Class of 2019
You can check out the executive summary of the Winter 2020 Salary Survey at www.naceweb.org/research/reports/.
The Winter 2020 Salary Survey report contains annual salary projections for Class of 2020 college graduates. The figures reported are for base salaries only and do not include bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits, or overtime rates. The report provides the detailed salary projections by academic major and degree level, along with breakouts by both industry and geographic region.
Data contained in the report were obtained by surveying NACE employer members from September 16, 2019, through December 2, 2019. A total of 134 surveys were returned—a 14.3 percent response rate.
(Source: NACE)
Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
