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Most lucrative college degrees
CNN/Money ^ | 7/27/04 | Deshundra Jefferson

Posted on 08/03/2004 4:49:17 AM PDT by Dane

..."This is definitely a transitional year," said Andrea Koncz, a NACE spokesperson. NACE releases its "Salary Survey" quarterly, with the final report for the 2003-2004 recruiting year due in September.

Engineering majors are seeing the most cash, led by gains from chemical engineering graduates who now earn $52,819 a year, up 1.9 percent from a year earlier. Computer engineering graduates are following closely behind with $51,572, but that figure represents a 0.3 percent decrease from last year.

Those graduating with a degree in computer science are seeing heartier increases. According to NACE, information sciences and systems graduates earn $43,053 a year, up 8.2 percent from a year earlier, while computer science graduates make $49,691 a year, up 4.8 percent...

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: engineering; highereducation; jobmarket
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To: Jemian

I sure hope you're not giving her a penny. My brother wanted to major in creative writing and my parents cured him of that really quickly.


21 posted on 08/03/2004 5:26:44 AM PDT by Nataku X
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To: Techster
I was wondering where EE stood.

Hopefully not in a puddle of water.

22 posted on 08/03/2004 5:27:20 AM PDT by tbpiper (Michael Moore…..the Erich von Däniken of political documentary)
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To: netmilsmom

I bet it's due to the reduction of H1-Bs. There are a lot of computer jobs that must be performed on-site and cannot be offshored.


23 posted on 08/03/2004 5:28:06 AM PDT by Nataku X
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To: Dane

I've never believed in "degree as meal ticket."

No matter what the field, you're worth exectly what you negotiate, not a penny more or a penny less.


24 posted on 08/03/2004 5:30:25 AM PDT by angkor
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To: VoiceOfBruck
Hey, where's EE?

Probably where it was after I graduated, a good deal above AE. <bangs head on desk in tiny cubicle>

25 posted on 08/03/2004 5:30:41 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
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To: Dane

The great thing about getting an economics degree is that I can accurately explain why I'm unemployed.


26 posted on 08/03/2004 5:31:22 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 (When it's all said and done, someone starts another conversation.......)
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To: VoiceOfBruck

Wow, I make more than my peers - what a happy thought.

It is because I was able to trick the USAF into making me an LT despite my major in International Relations.


27 posted on 08/03/2004 5:36:43 AM PDT by HerrKobes
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To: vetvetdoug

Do you have your own practice?


28 posted on 08/03/2004 5:47:23 AM PDT by mel
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To: Jemian

I've got an English degree, and I'm a software developer (front end design and implementation for voice applications). English is a fine "general" undergrad degree.

Um, of course, I have a second bachelor's degree and went on to earn 2 master's degrees. But the inclusion of a degree in English is not necessarily a bad thing.

In the end, if all she gets is a degree in English, that may be a helpful thing if she decides to homeschool her kids! :-D

Take courage, my friend! :-)


29 posted on 08/03/2004 5:50:54 AM PDT by Theo (homeschooling: small class sizes, effective discipline, healthy socialization, family values ...)
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To: Dane
Auditing / Accounting isn't a bad profession to get into right now. Because of the recent tighting of the accounting laws, large and small companies and even local, state, and federal government are doing a lot of hiring in these areas.

I has hired as an auditor 4 years ago, my starting salary was $29,000, but after less than 4 year I'm making $65,000 and could easily be making $80,000 if I wanted to relocate.

Many students are turned off from accounting / auditing because it's viewws as boring and not as glamorous as some of the other business professions like marketing. But this hasn't been my experience at all, there is a lot of interesting travel and far less number crunching than most people imagine.

30 posted on 08/03/2004 5:52:39 AM PDT by apillar
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
At the price of college versus the value received, many of these young adults should learn a trade and then have their parents give them the "education money" to go start their own business.

Some kids would probably do well with that. Others just wouldn't have the skills necessary to either "do" anything or manage the books. Still others would be like the prodigal son and spend it all on partying.

That said, there are many who'd do well with the plan you suggest. College is not absolutely "necessary" -- in my field (software development) I have coworkers with no degrees who are fine developers. Nobody ultimately cares about your "degree" -- they care if you can get the work done well.

31 posted on 08/03/2004 5:55:51 AM PDT by Theo (homeschooling: small class sizes, effective discipline, healthy socialization, family values ...)
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To: Dane
Engineering grads were paid pretty well when I graduated back in '84. I lasted 2 weeks, and then decided to do what I love, illustration.

The most "lucrative" career of all though is the priesthood. How much is a saved soul worth?

32 posted on 08/03/2004 5:57:28 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
At the price of college versus the value received, many of these young adults should learn a trade and then have their parents give them the "education money" to go start their own business.

You are absolutely correct!

33 posted on 08/03/2004 5:58:02 AM PDT by vikzilla
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To: Dane
The article says nothing about the relative *numbers* of jobs. There are far fewer engineering jobs *overall* than a decade ago. Notice that one of the biggest increases is in infosys *managing.* That's because while many IT people have been laid off, a few are left behind to *manage* the Bangalore or Beijing staff.

Also, the chart doesn't tell you how many of the jobs showing increases are in parts of the country that normally have higher costs of living (and thus higher compensation.) If there's been a big shift from St. Louis to Chicago (as *is* the case), then you'd see a corresponding rise in salaries - when in actuality the rise in salary often does *not* keep up with the cost of living.

People interested in what's really going on in the EE and CS job market should read something like EE Times - the picture isn't anywhere near as rosy.

34 posted on 08/03/2004 6:03:53 AM PDT by valkyrieanne
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To: dawn53
Bachelor degrees in any of the engineering courses do not mean a good job. You must get at least a masters to be hired at a good salary.

Just my anecdotal experience.

35 posted on 08/03/2004 6:07:57 AM PDT by OldFriend (IF IT'S KERRY.....HELL IS ON THE WAY)
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To: Dane
"There is no joy in Willieville today, at the sight of good news."

There is a ray of hopelessness. Didn't you see the "0.3 percent decrease from last year"? Gloomy forecast, I tell ya!

36 posted on 08/03/2004 6:10:09 AM PDT by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
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To: Vigilantcitizen

Hubby owns auto repair shop - there is a CRITICAL shortage of certified auto techs!!! A good tech, go-getter type cuz it's not an "easy" job, can make $80,000 - $100,000 just several years into their career (5-7+ years)!! Hooking up with Mercedes or BMW dealerships can get you more and many times THEY will purchase the tools a tech needs to start cooking, after graduation. Tools and tool boxes ARE A MAJOR EXPENSE for a newbie!!


37 posted on 08/03/2004 6:10:10 AM PDT by soozla (BUSH CHENEY 2004)
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To: Jemian
And my daughter is an English major. Big sigh

There's nothing wrong with being an English major - *if* the person actually takes hard courses with substantial content (British literature, 18th & 19th c. American literature, technical writing, editing, publishing.)

If you can, persuade them to also take some management or business courses as a minor and learn the computer & web design skills used in modern offices.

They can administer an office; run a not-for-profit; edit a professional journal; work for an engineering firm as a tech writer; work as a journalist; go into business for themselves.

People who get into trouble spend their time on "Gender Inequities in Modern Fiction" and other road-apples like that. If they stay away from the no-brain PC stuff, even English majors with ancillary skills can get living-wage jobs.

38 posted on 08/03/2004 6:13:11 AM PDT by valkyrieanne
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To: Dane

Where are the MATH folks??


39 posted on 08/03/2004 6:17:31 AM PDT by litehaus
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To: VoiceOfBruck

How come Philosophy majors aren't on that list?


40 posted on 08/03/2004 6:18:26 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Be a Dollar a Day FReeper, and SMILE when you get your Mastercard bill!)
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