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Management consulting is the top-paying industry for Class of 2018 bachelor’s-degree graduates, according to NACE’s Winter 2018 Salary Survey report.
Employers in the management consulting industry expect to pay new graduate hires salaries that average $67,569. They are closely followed by employers in the chemical (pharmaceutical) manufacturing industry, who plan to pay their new college hires an average of $65,669.
Other top-paying industries for Class of 2018 bachelor’s-degree graduates are information ($63,902); finance, insurance, and real estate ($63,836); and engineering services ($63,624).
The Winter 2018 Salary Survey contains annual salary projections for Class of 2018 college graduates. Data from the survey were obtained by surveying NACE employer members from August 9, 2017, through December 4, 2017. A total of 196 surveys were returned—a 23.9 percent response rate. NACE members can access the full report through MyNACE.
Figure 1: Top-Paying Industries, Bachelor’s Degrees
| Industry |
Average Salary Projection |
| Management Consulting |
$67,569 |
| Chemical (Pharmaceutical) Manufacturing |
$65,669 |
| Information |
$63,902 |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
$63,836 |
| Engineering Services |
$63,624 |
Source: Winter 2018 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers