I don't have any numbers for starting salaries, but here are the numbers from the BLS on how "lucrative" it is to be in the field. (You can find the most current BLS numbers for the computer field at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_15co.htm#othersoc, and for other categories, look at the bottom of that page for links.)
November 2003 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Computer and Mathematical Science Occupations
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. These and other data elements, including the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages are available in the downloadable Excel files(XLS).
Click on the SOC Code Number to view an occupational profile.
Wage Estimates SOC Code Number Occupation Title Employment (1) Median Hourly Mean Hourly Mean Annual (2) Mean RSE (3) 15-0000 Computer and Mathematical Science Occupations 2,830,550 $29.37 $30.84 $64,150 0.3 % 15-1011 Computer and Information Scientists, Research 23,770 $39.81 $40.98 $85,240 1.2 % 15-1021 Computer Programmers 403,220 $29.68 $31.33 $65,170 0.8 % 15-1031 Computer Software Engineers, Applications 410,580 $35.30 $36.66 $76,260 0.9 % 15-1032 Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software 292,520 $37.14 $38.36 $79,790 0.7 % 15-1041 Computer Support Specialists 480,520 $19.18 $20.74 $43,140 0.5 % 15-1051 Computer Systems Analysts 485,720 $31.28 $32.23 $67,040 0.6 % 15-1061 Database Administrators 97,540 $28.44 $29.86 $62,100 0.5 % 15-1071 Network and Computer Systems Administrators 244,610 $27.43 $28.90 $60,100 0.4 % 15-1081 Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts 156,270 $28.51 $29.92 $62,220 0.6 % 15-2011 Actuaries 14,550 $36.19 $41.84 $87,040 1.9 % 15-2021 Mathematicians 2,410 $37.34 $37.62 $78,240 2.1 % 15-2031 Operations Research Analysts 53,620 $28.41 $29.98 $62,360 0.8 % 15-2041 Statisticians 20,980 $30.92 $30.87 $64,210 1.8 % 15-2091 Mathematical Technicians 1,790 $17.97 $20.56 $42,760 2.4 %
Estimates for residual, "All Other", occupations are not available.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
In contrast, the legal profession looks like this:
November 2003 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Legal Occupations
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. These and other data elements, including the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages are available in the downloadable Excel files(XLS).
Click on the SOC Code Number to view an occupational profile.
Wage Estimates SOC Code Number Occupation Title Employment (1) Median Hourly Mean Hourly Mean Annual (2) Mean RSE (3) 23-0000 Legal Occupations 945,440 $28.56 $37.78 $78,590 0.9 % 23-1011 Lawyers 512,070 $44.58 $51.56 $107,250 0.8 % 23-1021 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers 14,820 $32.37 $34.15 $71,040 1.4 % 23-1022 Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators 4,710 $25.80 $29.88 $62,150 5.0 % 23-1023 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates 25,270 $43.86 $42.04 $87,430 1.1 % 23-2011 Paralegals and Legal Assistants 210,440 $18.48 $19.78 $41,130 1.2 % 23-2091 Court Reporters 16,200 $20.29 $22.66 $47,130 3.3 % 23-2092 Law Clerks 41,200 $15.75 $16.26 $33,820 2.0 % 23-2093 Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers 48,620 $16.30 $18.50 $38,490 1.6 %
Estimates for residual, "All Other", occupations are not available.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
Another group that does well overall and in particular groups are one that the BLS labels "Management".
November 2003 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Management Occupations
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. These and other data elements, including the 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages are available in the downloadable Excel files(XLS).
Click on the SOC Code Number to view an occupational profile.
Wage Estimates SOC Code Number Occupation Title Employment (1) Median Hourly Mean Hourly Mean Annual (2) Mean RSE (3) 11-0000 Management Occupations 6,439,530 $34.70 $40.10 $83,400 0.1 % 11-1011 Chief Executives 372,170 $65.58 $66.53 $138,380 0.3 % 11-1021 General and Operations Managers 1,841,470 $35.86 $42.94 $89,310 0.2 % 11-1031 Legislators 64,570 $7.96 $15.03 $31,260 2.1 % 11-2011 Advertising and Promotions Managers 64,390 $29.52 $35.60 $74,050 1.0 % 11-2021 Marketing Managers 176,270 $40.97 $45.16 $93,930 0.5 % 11-2022 Sales Managers 310,320 $39.41 $44.53 $92,610 0.4 % 11-2031 Public Relations Managers 54,490 $32.60 $37.00 $76,960 1.1 % 11-3011 Administrative Services Managers 266,330 $27.95 $31.11 $64,710 0.4 % 11-3021 Computer and Information Systems Managers 257,860 $43.51 $46.13 $95,960 0.3 % 11-3031 Financial Managers 509,690 $38.02 $42.54 $88,470 0.4 % 11-3040 Human Resources Managers 158,560 $33.82 $36.84 $76,620 0.4 % 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers 159,820 $34.45 $37.38 $77,750 0.3 % 11-3061 Purchasing Managers 84,750 $32.61 $35.32 $73,470 0.5 % 11-3071 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers 90,940 $31.19 $34.06 $70,830 0.5 % 11-9011 Farm, Ranch, and Other Agricultural Managers 5,000 $22.92 $25.08 $52,180 1.5 % 11-9021 Construction Managers 194,820 $32.51 $36.44 $75,800 0.8 % 11-9031 Education Administrators, Preschool and Child Care Center/Program 54,570 $16.94 $19.68 $40,940 1.4 % 11-9032 Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School 208,850 (4) (4) $75,420 0.7 % 11-9033 Education Administrators, Postsecondary 102,200 $32.58 $36.12 $75,120 0.8 % 11-9041 Engineering Managers 188,350 $45.98 $48.31 $100,490 0.4 % 11-9051 Food Service Managers 218,920 $18.24 $20.18 $41,980 1.8 % 11-9061 Funeral Directors 24,220 $22.17 $26.83 $55,810 3.1 % 11-9071 Gaming Managers 3,580 $27.85 $31.19 $64,880 1.6 % 11-9081 Lodging Managers 31,570 $17.48 $20.20 $42,030 1.2 % 11-9111 Medical and Health Services Managers 223,940 $31.90 $35.74 $74,340 0.7 % 11-9121 Natural Sciences Managers 39,780 $41.78 $45.41 $94,440 1.2 % 11-9131 Postmasters and Mail Superintendents 26,230 $24.38 $24.55 $51,050 0.1 % 11-9141 Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers 159,760 $18.63 $23.18 $48,210 1.3 % 11-9151 Social and Community Service Managers 116,210 $22.21 $24.13 $50,180 1.1 %
Estimates for residual, "All Other", occupations are not available.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.