Salaries in Engineering and Computer Science
When your parents and teachers tell you that the harder you work the more it will pay off later – they aren’t just talking to be talking. Despite a horrendous economy where many are losing jobs and having to accept job offers with low salaries – if you happen to be an engineer or computer science major, you will generally feel good about your career prospects.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), engineering salary offers for college graduates are still rising, although they are rising at a slower pace than last year. NACE points out that engineers are still in high demand because there still remains a shortage of them in the American workforce.
Top Degrees in Demand, (Bachelor’s Level)
Accounting
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Business Administration/Management
Economics/Finance
Information Sciences & Systems
Computer Engineering
Management Information Systems
Marketing/Marketing Management
*Source: Job Outlook 2009, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Top-Paid Bachelor’s Degrees (Average Salary Offer)
Chemical Engineering
$65,466
Mechanical Engineering
$58,648
Computer Science
$58,419
Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering
$57,404
Construction Science/Management
$52,837
Civil Engineering
$50,785
Finance
$49,794
Logistics/Materials Management
$49,398
Accounting
$48,334
In technical fields, the average starting salary or what engineers generally make their first year out of college was $58, 525, while computer majors earned $56,128. For business majors the average starting salary was $47,641 and for Liberal Arts graduates the number was $36, 445.
Among the various engineering fields, chemical engineers pulled in the top first year offers at $65,466. Remember these numbers represent only what companies are normally paying those just entering into the workforce.
According to the EE Times Annual Salary & Opinion Survey, while American engineers are receiving more and more competition from foreign-born engineers working in America, they still command on average $107,000. The EE study found that one out of five engineers in America was born in another country.
For other engineers who are settled into their careers, the following represents their average salaries: Electrical Engineering: $82,000. These engineers are pursued by those companies in radio, wireless, solar, energy, aerospace, defense, DNA, and entertainment. For experienced Civil Engineers the average salary was $78,000.
Clearly, there is still a strong demand for engineers and computer science graduates. Despite the economy, these career areas are standing strong, and the salaries are above average for most new graduates.