College graduates taking entry-level business jobs in 2011 got paid more than the Class of 2010, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, based in Allentown, Pa.
Average starting salaries for business majors rose 3.8% to $48,144 in 2011 from $46,378 in 2010, said Andrea Koncz, a NACE spokesperson who compiled the Salary Survey's numbers. Salaries for accounting majors rose 3.7% to $50,500, NACE said. Average salaries for finance majors rose 3.9% to $48,300.
"Entry-level accounting and finance jobs tend to see steady growth from year to year," said Koncz. "They might see small decreases when the market goes down, but starting salaries in those professions typically grow at a steady rate."
The numbers reflect a national average, she said. Entry-level employees in New York might have seen bigger gains.
The data used for the report came from employers in each field and were compiled through numbers provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. The data represent accepted starting salaries, not salary offers.
NACE will provide its first look at starting salaries for the Class of 2012 in April.
Write to Damian Ghigliotty at Damian.Ghigliotty@dowjones.com
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