When you are a fresh graduate or a newly registered engineer, it can be really difficult to find a job because of the lack of experience. Your employability is not exactly known unless of course you had internships or related jobs while in college. They could be used as an edge for a higher chance of being employed.
However, it is not just about you getting any first job as an engineer. An important factor to consider in finding your first job is the salary, among others. Do you think your field pays well for entry-level jobs?
In a comparative study by WalletHub, it revealed that the high-paying entry-level jobs are dominated by engineering and other STEM jobs.
The study measured 109 entry-level positions across all industries, according to three main factors – immediate opportunity (40 percent), growth potential (40 percent) and job hazards (20 percent) – and 12 metrics, including median starting salary, projected job growth by 2014 and income growth potential.
Listed below are the top 15, 10 of which are related to engineering, 1 from pure science, and 4 from law.
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Software engineer
Source: Wikipedia Commons
Median starting salary: $64,573
Median annual salary: $100,690
Overall rank: 8
Growth potential rank: 22
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Civil engineer
Source: Godfrey-Hoffman
Median starting salary: $65,232
Median annual salary: $83,540
Overall rank: 52
Growth potential rank: 21
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Network engineer
Source: IT Degrees and Programs
Median starting salary: $65,277
Median annual salary: $101,210
Overall rank: 16
Growth potential rank: 6
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Hardware engineer
Source: Hackwhiz
Median starting salary: $65,991
Median annual salary: $115,080
Overall rank: 42
Growth potential rank: 41
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Electrical engineer
Source: The Balance
Median starting salary: $66,026
Median annual salary: $94,210
Overall rank: 5
Growth potential rank: 38
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Systems engineer
Source: iSymmetry
Median starting salary: $68,127
Median annual salary: $84,310
Overall rank: 2
Growth potential rank: 32
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Electronics engineer
Source: Canadian Business
Median starting salary: $68,732
Median annual salary: $99,210
Overall rank: 9
Growth potential rank: 24
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Aerospace engineer
Source: Career Builder
Median starting salary: $69,735
Median annual salary: $109,650
Overall rank: 15
Growth potential rank: 19
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Geophysicist
Source: CBC
Median starting salary: $71,721
Median annual salary: $89,780
Overall rank: 44
Growth potential rank: 55
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Chemical engineer
Source: MCL
Median starting salary: $71,842
Median annual salary: $98,340
Overall rank: 10
Growth potential rank: 13
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Employment law attorney
Median starting salary: $83,142
Median annual salary: $118,160
Overall rank: 29
Growth potential rank: 1
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Patent attorney
Median starting salary: $86,196
Median annual salary: $118,160
Overall rank: 27
Growth potential rank: 1
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Attorney
Median starting salary: $89,052
Median annual salary: $118,160
Overall rank: 17
Growth potential rank: 1
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Drilling engineer
Source: Job Contax
Median starting salary: $89,167
Median annual salary: $128,230
Overall rank: 67
Growth potential rank: 17
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Tax attorney
Median starting salary: $93,899
Median annual salary: $118,160
Overall rank: 22
Growth potential rank: 1
Source: CNBC