What New Graduates Actually Earn: The Complete 2025 Breakdown
Engineering graduates lead all majors with an average starting salary of $78,731, followed by computer science at $76,251. However, the reality of entry level salary by college major is far more nuanced than these headline numbers suggest.
Based on data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Winter 2025 Salary Survey, which surveyed 158 employers, the overall average college graduate salary is projected to be $68,500 in 2025. But this average masks dramatic differences: computer engineering and software engineering graduates command $82,565 and $82,536 respectively, while communications majors start at $60,353, and social sciences graduates at $67,316.
The most surprising finding? Gen Z students expect to earn $84,855 one year after graduation—roughly $16,175 more than the actual median starting salary. Even more telling, business majors anticipate earnings of $98,113 while the average starting salary sits at $50,200, and psychology majors expect $88,265 with an actual starting salary of $44,700.
Why Major Choice Matters More Than Ever
The gap between the top and bottom majors exceeds $22,000, proving that your choice of major significantly impacts your entry level salary by college major from day one. Employers are planning to hire 7.3% more graduates from the Class of 2025 than they did from the Class of 2024, but this growth isn’t distributed equally across all fields.
📊 Want to see how your major stacks up against 20+ fields with real company data? Keep reading for the complete breakdown by industry, including specific salaries from Google, Amazon, Deloitte, and 100+ more employers ⬇️
Complete Entry-Level Salary Data by Major (2025)
Engineering: The Highest-Paying Bachelor’s Degree
Engineering graduates are projected to be the top paid, as their overall average is up 2.6% from $76,736 last year to $78,731 this year.
Specific Engineering Specializations:
- Computer Engineering: $82,565 (up 6.5% year-over-year)
- Software Engineering: $82,536 (up 5.8% year-over-year)
- Electrical Engineering: Industry average ~$75,000-$80,000
- Mechanical Engineering: Industry average ~$72,000-$78,000
- Civil Engineering: Industry average ~$68,000-$72,000
Top-Paying Companies for Engineering Graduates:
Analysis from Blind reveals that Google pays entry-level engineers the most in total compensation among major tech companies, followed by Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. While specific 2025 figures fluctuate, entry-level software engineers at FAANG companies typically earn between $172,000 and $188,000 in total compensation (including salary, stock, and bonus).
According to Glassdoor, the average annual Google software engineer salary in the US is about $136,000 (base pay) for an entry-level engineer, with total compensation including bonus and equity payouts reaching about $160,000.
Computer Science: Consistent Demand and Strong Pay
Computer sciences majors show stability in their average salary projections year over year. The overall projection for the Class of 2025 is $76,251, up 2% from $74,778 for the Class of 2024.
Breakdown by Specialization:
- Computer Science (General): Up 1.7% to approximately $75,000
- Information Sciences and Systems: Up 1.8%
- Software Applications: Up 2.5%
Why It’s In Demand: Computer science shares the top spot with finance, with 67.1% of total respondents reporting plans to hire these majors.
Tech Company Entry-Level Salaries:
While exact figures vary by role and location, industry data suggests:
- Google: ~$136,000-$160,000 total compensation
- Meta: ~$170,000-$185,000 total compensation
- Amazon: ~$160,000-$175,000 total compensation
- Apple: ~$165,000-$180,000 total compensation
- Microsoft: ~$155,000-$170,000 total compensation
Business: Rising Salaries Reflect High Demand
Class of 2025 business graduates have an average salary projection that is 2.1% higher than last year, raising it to $65,276.
Business Specializations:
- Finance: Most in-demand; Finance majors take the top spot with 67.1% of employers planning to hire
- Accounting: 65% of employers indicate they will hire accounting majors
- Business Administration: 55% of employers planning to hire
- Management Information Systems (MIS): Previously saw 7.5% growth to $73,695
- Marketing: Average starting salary ~$50,000-$60,000
Accounting Entry-Level Salaries:
According to the 2025 Accounting Today Salary Survey, the median salary for staff accountants saw a whopping $10,000 increase from 2024, putting it more in line with salaries for those starting out in technology, finance or general business operations.
The average salary for an Entry Level Accountant is $57,232 per year, with the typical pay range between $46,147 (25th percentile) and $71,735 (75th percentile) annually.
Big Four Accounting Firm Salaries:
Entry-level positions at Big Four firms (Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY) offer competitive compensation packages with base salaries typically ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 for analyst and associate roles.
Consulting Firm Starting Salaries:
For undergraduate analysts at top consulting firms:
- MBB (McKinsey, BCG, Bain): Between $135,000 and $140,000 in the USA
- Big Four Consulting: Between $90,000 and $108,000
- Deloitte (undergrad): ~$90,000-$100,000 base
- PwC (undergrad): ~$85,000-$95,000 base
- EY (undergrad): ~$85,000-$95,000 base
- KPMG (undergrad): ~$80,000-$90,000 base
Math and Sciences: Third-Highest Paid Despite Decline
Despite a decrease of almost 2% in the salary projection for math and sciences graduates, they remain third highest-paid majors at $69,709.
The slight decline doesn’t indicate reduced demand. The BLS projects that employment of mathematicians and statisticians alone will grow at 11%, much faster than the national average, from 2023-2033.
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fastest Growing
Agriculture and Natural Resources majors saw the highest salary jump for 2025, with salaries projected to start at $63,122—a 2.8% increase.
This growth reflects increasing focus on sustainability, food security, and environmental management in both private and public sectors.
Social Sciences: Facing Headwinds
The projected 2025 starting salary for Social Sciences majors is $67,316, reflecting a 3.6% drop from 2024.
Despite the decline, social sciences have seen growth in recent years, with 2024 projections showing increases before the 2025 correction.
Communications: Market Correction
Communications starting salary projections dropped from $62,205 in 2024 to $60,353 in 2025.
However, the hiring landscape is mixed. Careers in the field, like public relations specialists and managers, are projected to see employment growth, while other communications jobs like news reporters are projected to decline.
Nursing: High Demand, Competitive Pay
The average starting BSN salary is $64,480, representing the average amount earned during the first year as a registered nurse with a BSN.
More Detailed Nursing Salary Data:
The national average salary in 2025 for a BSN nurse ranges from $64,000 to $136,000 per year, with entry-level BSN nurses starting around $64,000 annually.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual entry-level BSN salary is $80,321, while Indeed.com puts it at $61,152.
Geographic Variation Matters: The top six highest-paying cities for BSN graduates are in California, including Oakland ($171,000), San Francisco ($171,000), San Jose ($168,130), Sacramento ($148,840) and Modesto ($140,860).
Between 2023 and 2027, BSN employment growth will add 98,540 new positions, equal to 6.11% growth.
Marketing: Wide Salary Range
Entry-level marketing salaries vary significantly by specialization and location.
General Marketing:
The average annual pay for Entry Level Marketing in the United States is $49,574 a year, with the majority of salaries ranging between $44,000 (25th percentile) to $54,500 (75th percentile).
Digital Marketing Specialization:
The average annual pay for an Entry Level Digital Marketing Specialist in the United States is $65,418 a year, with the majority of salaries ranging between $50,000 (25th percentile) to $74,500 (75th percentile).
Entry-level digital marketing positions typically start around $44,000, while experienced professionals can earn up to $90,000 or more.
Psychology: Bachelor’s vs. Advanced Degrees
With Bachelor’s Degree Only:
Psychology major graduates in the United States make on average $40,858 a year or $19.64 per hour.
Bachelor’s degree holders can leverage their knowledge of psychology and behavior into careers such as human resource specialists ($79,730), social or community services managers ($86,100), and market research analysts ($86,480).
With Advanced Degrees:
The median annual wage for counseling psychologists with advanced degrees is $81,040.
Career Progression: Less than 1 year of experience: $53,000 per year on average; 1-4 years: $61,000; 5-9 years: $69,000.
Education: Geography Determines Pay
The national average beginning teacher salary was $46,526 in 2023-24, representing a 4.4% increase—the largest increase in the 15 years that NEA has been tracking teacher salary benchmarks.
Entry-Level Teacher Salaries:
The average annual pay for an Entry Level Teacher in the United States is $53,698 a year, with the majority of salaries ranging between $46,500 (25th percentile) to $60,000 (75th percentile).
State Variation: Only 30% of school districts have a starting teacher salary of at least $50,000, meaning 70% still pay below this threshold.
An increasing number of school districts have teacher salaries that top $100,000, now 20.7% up from 16.6%, with 96% of these districts in states with a state collective bargaining law.
The Gender Pay Gap Starts at Entry-Level
NACE found that female graduating seniors expect to earn 16% less than their male counterparts—and they typically do earn less.
Part of this is due to growing responsibilities women have at home as they get older, and another reason is that most high-paying fields, like engineering and computer science, are male dominated, with 74% of graduates in the 20 highest-paying degree programs being men.
Master’s Degree Premium: Is It Worth It?
Engineering Master’s: Class of 2025 engineering graduates at the master’s degree level earn $94,086, up 12.5% from the previous year.
Business Master’s: The average salary projection for business degree graduates at the master’s degree level is expected to rise to $77,632, up 3.1%.
Computer Science Master’s: At $84,960, the projected average salary for computer sciences majors with a master’s remains flat, ticking down less than 1% from last year.
MBA Consulting Salaries:
Average base salaries at the Big Three consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) are around $190,000 for MBA graduates, with average total compensation rising to around $250,000 when factoring in signing and performance bonuses.
Location Makes a Massive Difference
Highest-Paying States for Entry-Level Positions
For Tech/Engineering:
- California
- Washington
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Texas
For Nursing:
- California leads with cities paying $140,000-$171,000
- Hawaii
- Oregon
- Washington
- Alaska
For Education:
- Washington tops the list, followed by District of Columbia and New York
Cost of Living Adjustment: Higher salaries in expensive metros don’t always translate to better purchasing power. A higher salary in a high-cost area may still result in a lower standard of living than in a lower-cost region.
How Companies Actually Structure Entry-Level Compensation
Tech Companies (Total Compensation)
Most FAANG and major tech companies structure entry-level compensation with:
- Base Salary: 60-70% of total compensation
- Stock Options/RSUs: 20-30% of total compensation
- Signing Bonus: $10,000-$30,000 (one-time)
- Annual Performance Bonus: 10-20% of base salary
Consulting Firms
A management consultant compensation package includes base salary, performance bonus, sign-on bonus, and a relocation payment depending on company policy.
The first thing to note is that a management consultant salary is typically non-negotiable at the base salary level.
Traditional Corporate Roles
- Base salary accounts for 85-95% of total compensation
- Smaller performance bonuses (5-10%)
- Limited or no stock options for entry-level
What Determines Your Starting Salary?
1. Major/Field of Study
The gap between top-paying and lowest-paying majors exceeds $22,000 annually, making your choice of major one of the most critical factors in determining entry level salary by college major.
2. Company Size and Type
Large corporations and specialized firms typically offer higher starting salaries than smaller companies or nonprofits.
3. Geographic Location
Location significantly impacts entry level salary by college major, with coastal cities typically offering 30-50% more than rural areas.
4. Demand vs. Supply
The positive salary projections for computer science and engineering graduates reflect the overwhelming employer need for workers with artificial intelligence (AI) skills.
5. Education Level
Professional and doctoral degrees bring in over $2,000 a week on average, while a high school diploma sits under $900, and the jump from college to having the degree is worth nearly $500 more a week.
Industry-Specific Hiring Trends for 2025
Most In-Demand Majors
Employer respondents indicated the most in-demand majors are finance and computer science, with two-thirds of respondents indicating they will hire students in these majors.
Similarly, accounting (65%), business administration (55%), and information sciences and systems (53%) are majors employers indicated they will hire.
Growing Fields
Business schools have embraced tech in their curriculum in recent years, with STEM, AI, and financial technology (fintech) set to be major focus areas for business schools in 2025 and beyond.
With a growing emphasis on mental health awareness, psychologists are seeing increasing demand in workplaces addressing burnout, stress management, and productivity optimization.
Reality Check: What Employers Look For Beyond Your Major
Technical Skills
Data analytics is incorporated across business degree types, with individual programs with a tech focus showing positive earnings results.
Experience
Even for entry-level roles, internships matter. Once you successfully complete one of the KPMG internship positions, your chances of getting a full-time offer go up to 90%.
Soft Skills
Beyond technical competence, companies increasingly value:
- Communication skills
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Cultural fit
The Long-Term Outlook: Career Trajectory by Major
Fastest Salary Growth
Engineering: By 2027, nursing salary is expected to climb by $19,720, or 21.26%.
Consulting: Consulting firms have “up or out” policies requiring continuous promotion every 2-3 years, leading to rapid salary advancement.
Job Security
The BLS projects employment of computer and information research scientists to grow much faster than average.
BSN employment growth will add 98,540 new positions between 2023 and 2027, reflecting nursing shortages in many states.
Key Takeaways: What This Means for You
- Your Major Significantly Impacts Starting Salary: The $22,000+ gap between highest and lowest-paying majors compounds over a career, making entry level salary by college major a critical consideration.
- Location Is Crucial: The same role can pay 40-50% more in high-cost metros, but cost of living matters.
- Company Type Matters as Much as Industry: FAANG companies pay significantly more than average tech companies; Big Four consulting firms pay more than regional firms.
- Graduate Degrees Show Mixed ROI: Engineering and business master’s degrees show strong returns, while others may not justify the cost.
- Demand Shifts Quickly: Overall hiring projections for the Class of 2025 are up 7.3%, but this growth isn’t evenly distributed.
- Salary Expectations Should Be Realistic: Gen Z students expect to earn roughly $16,175 more than actual median starting salaries.
Authoritative Resources for Salary Research
For the most accurate and up-to-date entry level salary by college major information, consult these trusted sources:
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)Â – The leading source for college graduate employment data and salary surveys
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Comprehensive government data on occupational employment and wages
- Glassdoor Salary Database – Crowdsourced salary information from millions of employees across companies
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – Detailed career information including entry-level education requirements and median pay
Methodology and Data Sources
This report synthesizes data from:
- NACE Winter 2025 Salary Survey: 158 employers surveyed from October 7, 2024, through November 30, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Latest 2024-2025 wage data
- Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com: Crowdsourced salary data from thousands of submissions
- Management Consulted 2025 Report: Direct survey data from consulting firm offers
- Company-specific data: From FAANG companies, Big Four accounting firms, and major employers
- NEA Educator Pay Data 2025: Data from 12,000 local school districts
All figures represent base salaries unless otherwise noted. Total compensation figures include base salary, bonuses, stock options, and other guaranteed compensation.
Conclusion: Making Informed Career Decisions
The Class of 2025 faces a job market with strong hiring growth but uneven distribution across majors. When examining entry level salary by college major, engineering ($78,731), computer science ($76,251), and math/sciences ($69,709) continue to dominate starting salary rankings, while communications ($60,353) and some social sciences face more modest starting salaries.
The gap between student salary expectations and reality highlights the importance of research. Understanding real compensation data—not just averages but ranges, geographic variation, and total compensation structures—is essential for making informed career decisions about entry level salary by college major prospects.
Whether you’re choosing a major, negotiating your first offer, or considering graduate school, remember: starting salary is just one factor. Consider growth potential, job satisfaction, work-life balance, and long-term career trajectories when making decisions that will shape your professional life.
The job market rewards specialized skills, technical competence, and strategic career planning. Use this data to position yourself for success in 2025 and beyond.
Data current as of October 2025. Salary figures represent projected averages and ranges based on available data from multiple sources. Individual offers may vary based on qualifications, location, company, and market conditions.
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