Projected Top-Paid Business Bachelor’s, Master’s Grads

March 8, 2017 | By NACE Staff

Compensation

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TAGS: nace insights,

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Management information systems majors are expected to be the top-paid Class of 2017 business graduates at the bachelor’s-degree level this year, while, among master’s degree graduates, marketing graduates are projected to be the highest paid.

Get current business major salary info and more from the most recent Salary Survey

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Employers responding to NACE’s Winter 2017 Salary Survey expect to pay Class of 2017 management information systems majors earning bachelor’s degrees starting salaries that average $59,642. Following just behind are actuarial science ($56,114), economics ($55,965), and logistics/supply chain ($55,694) majors.

Among Class of 2017 master’s degree graduates, marketing majors are expected to earn $86,318. (See Figure 2.) Other projected top-earning business majors at the master’s level include business administration/management ($81,685) and management information systems ($75,433) majors.

Data contained in NACE’s Winter 2017 Salary Survey report are annual salary projections for Class of 2017 college graduates and were obtained by surveying NACE employer members from August 5, 2016, through November 30, 2016. The figures reported are for base salaries only and do not include bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits, or overtime rates. Final starting salary data for the Class of 2016 will be available in the Spring 2017 Salary Survey. The Winter 2017 Salary Survey is available to members in MyNACE. An executive summary of the Winter 2017 Salary Survey report is also available.

Figure 1: Projected Highest Paid Business Majors, Bachelor’s Degree Level

Major
Management Information Systems
Average Starting Salary	$59,642
Actuarial Science
Average Starting Salary	$56,114
Economics
Average Starting Salary	$55,965
Logistics/Supply Chain
Average Starting Salary	$55,694
Finance
Average Starting Salary	$55,609
Accounting
Average Starting Salary	$54,838
International Business
Average Starting Salary	$54,446
Business Administration/Management
Average Starting Salary	$54,019
Marketing
Average Starting Salary	$52,988
Human Resources
Average Starting Salary	$52,313
Sales
Average Starting Salary	$52,144
Hospitality Management
Average Starting Salary	$48,607

Major	Average Starting Salary
Management Information Systems	$59,642
Actuarial Science	$56,114
Economics	$55,965
Logistics/Supply Chain	$55,694
Finance	$55,609
Accounting	$54,838
International Business	$54,446
Business Administration/Management	$54,019
Marketing	$52,988
Human Resources	$52,313
Sales	$52,144
Hospitality Management	$48,607

Note: Only business majors with 10 or more responses are included.
Source: Winter 2017 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Figure 2: Projected Highest Paid Business Majors, Master’s Degree Level

Major
Marketing
Average Starting Salary	$86,318
Business Administration/Management
Average Starting Salary	$81,685
Management Information Systems
Average Starting Salary	$75,433
Economics
Average Starting Salary	$73,665
Human Resources
Average Starting Salary	$73,212
Finance
Average Starting Salary	$70,957
International Business
Average Starting Salary	$69,964
Logistics/Supply Chain
Average Starting Salary	$68,445
Accounting
Average Starting Salary	$67,369

Major	Average Starting Salary
Marketing	$86,318
Business Administration/Management	$81,685
Management Information Systems	$75,433
Economics	$73,665
Human Resources	$73,212
Finance	$70,957
International Business	$69,964
Logistics/Supply Chain	$68,445
Accounting	$67,369

Note: Only business majors with 10 or more responses are included.
Source: Winter 2017 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Spotlight for Career Services Professionals
Spotlight for Recruiting Professionals

Management information systems majors are expected to be the top-paid Class of 2017 business graduates at the bachelor’s-degree level this year, while, among master’s degree graduates, marketing graduates are projected to be the highest paid.

Employers responding to NACE’s Winter 2017 Salary Survey expect to pay Class of 2017 management information systems majors earning bachelor’s degrees starting salaries that average $59,642. Following just behind are actuarial science ($56,114), economics ($55,965), and logistics/supply chain ($55,694) majors.

Among Class of 2017 master’s degree graduates, marketing majors are expected to earn $86,318. (See Figure 2.) Other projected top-earning business majors at the master’s level include business administration/management ($81,685) and management information systems ($75,433) majors.

Data contained in NACE’s Winter 2017 Salary Survey report are annual salary projections for Class of 2017 college graduates and were obtained by surveying NACE employer members from August 5, 2016, through November 30, 2016. The figures reported are for base salaries only and do not include bonuses, commissions, fringe benefits, or overtime rates. Final starting salary data for the Class of 2016 will be available in the Spring 2017 Salary Survey. The Winter 2017 Salary Survey is available to members in MyNACE. An executive summary of the Winter 2017 Salary Survey report is also available.