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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.
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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 |
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 |
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