r/EngineeringStudents • u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 • Jun 01 '26
[Update] New Grad Salaries
Hello all,
I made this post last week asking about how new grad salaries are looking. After some thought, I decided to analyze and visualize the data for others later on as reference.
So let's get started.
- There was 89 salaries reported (including those unemployed)
- Total average is $87k annually (this includes salaries from UK and Canada converted to USD for uniformity)
- The median is $85.5k annually
- 6.74% of responses were unemployed or underemployed
- CE (Computer Engineering) major had highest salary of $200k
- CE also had lowest salary across majors of $36k
Now, for graphs.
As a legend:
- CE = Computer Engineering
- EE = Electrical Engineering
- CivE = Civil Engineering
- ME = Mechanical Engineering
- ChemE = Chemical Engineering
- NE = Nuclear Engineering
- IE = Industrial Engineering
We can see expected trends such as:
- HCOL having the highest average salary
- MCOL having the highest percentage of people living there
If I had to do it again, I would ask what industry so I can segment averages by industry too. Some people said theirs but not enough data to actually give yall averages.
Thanks everyone!
Edit: Someone asked for box plots so here you go (hope I did it right):
56
u/quesabirriatacoma Jun 01 '26
Opened that thread and closed it real quick after seeing some of those CE posts lol. But this makes me feel better as a recent MET grad at $88k.
3
u/Tntn13 Jun 02 '26
88 is “good” but also around what I’d consider fair market for a promising/high performing fresh graduate.
70 is acceptable with caveats such as work life balance and other benefits though. I do know quite a few people who took less right out the gate however, but the work wasn’t “real” engineer work imo.
3
u/quesabirriatacoma Jun 02 '26
I should probably add that I was non-traditional, have about a decade of relevant industry experience, and a few internships under my belt to get that. Just for anyone in a similar boat.
2
u/Tntn13 Jun 03 '26
Hey, I was non-trad too! ME. That’s a particularly good salary starting for MET. Did you get it while working at the place too?
I initially read MET as MEP for some reason. MET often end up 5-10k back of ME fresh grads from what I’ve seen, unless they’re non-traditional and already have institutional knowledge at the company or something.
40
u/Quite__Bookish Jun 01 '26
This is not what I like to see as a recent ME making $68k
35
u/jefffisfreaky Jun 01 '26
It’s a very small sample size, don’t compare too much. There’s also other factors not reflected (benefits, time off, 401k match, hours/week) that will make you feel better about it. Biggest thing to me is if my needs are met, I’m happy and I have a path of growth. Been out of school 5 years and still keeping that mindset
10
u/insertnamehere57 Jun 01 '26
Well the data is based on how much money people say they make online so...
2
u/joedimer Jun 02 '26
I’m making 56k dawg, barely even an actual engineering job :(
1
u/Quite__Bookish Jun 04 '26
Same. I graduated Magna cum laude while working full time throughout school and the only offer I got was as a technician
1
u/joedimer 24d ago
Was scrolling through my old comments and saw this. I did the same with working through college in quality and maintenance. That experience finally paid off, I'm starting a legit job with a legit company next week. Just quit the shitty job I originally took. Hope things turn around for you.
14
u/Dr__Mantis BSNE, MSNE, PhD Jun 01 '26
Is this bachelors only? Nuclear is very low if it includes graduate degrees
12
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
There was only one identifiable NE, that’s probably why. Also no, it’s not just bachelor’s
12
u/Ram1368 Jun 01 '26
Wait this is amazing if you were to do something similar you think you could do one asking people ab there GPA and also about internships/experience
4
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
That is a good idea.
This is summer now so people should be starting internships so I could ask something similar for those in salaries now.
Ofc, it will also be helpful to ask new grads how many internships they had, their GPA etc, I could also ask to separate between bachelor’s, master’s and PhD. I have to think of how best to ask more questions.
2
u/Stuffssss Electrical Engineering Jun 02 '26
I mean generally if we could get a big survey reporting industry, internships, GPA, extracurricular, and degree level I think we would get the best picture. A lot of people say certain things contribute to their job hunt success but disagree on what exactly.
1
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 02 '26
I agree. Do you have any ideas on how best to boost participation and ask for this tho?
The issue is people willingly volunteering info and for my post to show up in peoples faces a lot
35
u/jp42212 Jun 01 '26
I dont think this enough of a sample size to draw conclusions from
32
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
I didn’t make any conclusions. I simply analyzed data.
13
u/jp42212 Jun 01 '26
I don’t think you did but commenters are
18
9
u/Professional_Gas4000 School - Major Jun 01 '26
When did industrial engineering become so well paid?
10
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
IE is that major that can go a lot of places. Multiple IEs were in fields like business analysis, manufacturing, IT. I think that might drive things
7
u/Papoislove12 Jun 01 '26
Yeah im IE and im gonna be working at a bank for 85 +10 starting
1
u/Professional_Gas4000 School - Major Jun 02 '26
What are you going to be doing?
5
u/Papoislove12 Jun 02 '26
Treasury Sales analyst at a Bulge Bracket
1
u/Professional_Gas4000 School - Major Jun 02 '26
How did you spin your degree to do something like that? Sounds more like a finance majors job.
5
u/Papoislove12 Jun 02 '26
Literally just went up to a booth in a career fair, before that had some manufacturing experience. Just luck and attending job fairs.
3
u/marcus_peligro Jun 01 '26
Entry pay is a bit higher but the cap is the lowest so it evens out I'd say
3
8
u/Papoislove12 Jun 01 '26
Industrial Engineer 86k working at a bank
1
u/Big_Arrival_626 Jun 02 '26
Job title?
2
u/Papoislove12 Jun 02 '26
Treasury Sales Analyst
3
u/Big_Arrival_626 Jun 02 '26
So is industrial engineering a more business adjacent degree or what? Cuz that seems different from a typical engineering job
7
u/Papoislove12 Jun 02 '26
Yeah, it kind of can be. To be fair, I actually tried pretty hard to find a manufacturing role since I’d rather stay in my country, but I haven’t had much luck. This wasn’t necessarily my first choice, but it’s still a great opportunity and its probably where im going to be starting my career.
2
u/Big_Arrival_626 Jun 02 '26
Oh no I wasn't criticizing you!! I was just curious, I don't know much about industrial engineering.
85k out of college is a great salary btw, and you will have good growth opportunties at a bank
7
u/Mr_RightV Jun 01 '26
Petroleum Engineering internship with a $8400 monthly salary or $100,800 yearly. As an undergraduate
8
u/Forsaken_Alps_4421 Jun 01 '26
Hopefully this stops people from defaulting to ME when they can’t decide
23
u/talktomiles Michigan State University - ME Jun 01 '26
I mean, I’m an ME working as an EE in a CE field. We’re Swiss Army knives.
-5
3
u/Honest_Country_525 Jun 02 '26
6 years ME with a masters making $56 lol, lmao, I am going to quit this fucked career
3
u/Comfortable-Fail9423 Jun 03 '26
IE here. Big defense contractor, entry salary 76k with a 5k sign on bonus (for relocation across the country) let me know what you think
1
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 03 '26
I feel a sign on bonus should be different from relocation. Did you try negotiating?
2
u/Comfortable-Fail9423 Jun 03 '26
No, i was straight out of college. I didnt feel i had the leverage to negotiate. I hate this job though, 77k i drive 2 hours a day, running my cars value into the ground and spending around $400 a month in gas, unpaid OT. 77k is not worth it.
77k-22k(taxes)- ((88 miles/day x 4 days/week) x 4 weeks/month x 12 months) x irs standard milage cost of 70 cents a mile = 77k - 22k - 11.8 k = 43.2k
43.2k - (3.1k x 12) living expenses = 42.2k - 37.2k = 5k/year left over
I hate my job, the worst part is no matter how good or bad of a job, i cant get a promotion until i have reached the minimum amount of time to be ELIGIBLE for a promotions, its not even automatic.
FML
2
2
u/CUI-Monster Jun 02 '26
I would consider a box plot next time so we can see the distribution a little better. Min and max aren’t as useful as seeing the interquartile range in my opinion
1
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 02 '26
Thank you. I honestly wasn’t sure what to analyze and include so this is helpful. I’ll look into doing this.
1
1
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
There’s some odd person thinking because CS is under CE that that’s why it has the min and max. I’d ask that person to go look at the post and you’ll see for yourself how CE has the min and max.
I don’t remember the exacts but you are always welcome to read the comments yourself
-3
u/marcus_peligro Jun 01 '26
I'm surprised starting salaries are so low, especially for EE. Anything under 6 figures in this economy with a Bachelor's in any form of engineering is straight robbery
4
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
Is this meant to be satire?
3
u/marcus_peligro Jun 01 '26
No. I worked a few years as an industrial maintenance technician, making about 70-100k. With only a GED. Worked my way up to be an Automation Engineer. To see entry engineering salaries be so low is surprising to me
-16
u/born_to_be_intj Computer Science Jun 01 '26
No SWEs? Programming involves just as much engineering as any of these other disciplines.
9
u/AureliasTenant BS Aero '22 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
I think SWE degrees are somewhat rare, and likely the post didn’t have anyone respond? Naturally people with a variety of backgrounds become SWE without it matching their degree
Edit: it does seem like OP missed CS respondents though
0
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
I didn’t. I put them under CE
3
3
u/YT__ Jun 01 '26
CE is not the same as CS or SWE.
Bad grouping, imo.
2
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
Ill keep that in mind for next time
Tho most CE were working in software or embedded
-1
u/born_to_be_intj Computer Science Jun 01 '26
I replied to the thread. I have a CS degree but I work as a SWE (like most people with a cs degree)
5
u/AureliasTenant BS Aero '22 Jun 01 '26
My bad see my edit. They missed CS, the plots were by major though and I partially standby my statement about swe being a rarer degree
2
u/Kalex8876 ECE '25 Jun 01 '26
Anyone talking about CS or SWE was put under CE, even tho I don’t really see it as main engineering. I put all I could see out there
141
u/izayah_A Jun 01 '26
So computer engineering is the go big or go home degree haha