{"id":3235,"date":"2026-05-29T21:34:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T21:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3235"},"modified":"2026-05-29T21:34:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T21:34:43","slug":"college-grads-expect-an-80k-salary-good-luck-with-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/?p=3235","title":{"rendered":"College grads expect an $80k salary. Good luck with that"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Newly minted college graduates may have to manage their expectations about that first job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The average college student expects to earn $80,000 after graduation, according to a new\u00a0survey\u00a0from Clever Real Estate.\u00a0But the actual starting salary for college graduates is closer to $56,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The survey comes at a time when college students are\u00a0spending more than ever\u00a0on higher education,\u00a0borrowing more\u00a0and graduating into a\u00a0tight job market.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the Clever survey,\u00a0current\u00a0students said they expect to earn an annual salary of $80,004, on average, one year after graduation.\u00a0By contrast, the average full-time employee ages 18 to 25 with a bachelor\u2019s degree earns $56,153, according to Census data.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Most students\u00a0in the survey\u00a0overestimated\u00a0the earning power of their degrees. Education majors, for example, predicted they would earn a starting salary of $75,186. The actual starting salary for a teacher is about $46,500, Clever reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Engineering students predicted a starting salary of $92,452. The actual starting salary in that field is $78,731.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The survey drew from 769 college students and was collected in February and March.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Jaime Dunaway-Seale, the report author, said college students may be harboring unrealistic hopes about starting\u00a0pay\u00a0in an era of steadily rising costs for housing, consumer goods and\u00a0most\u00a0everything else.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI think they\u2019re looking at the world around them, and looking at how much things are, and then they come up with a number that seems fair to them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"rounded-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/2BWsphCFpZ1pX.bzFoEkZQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyMztjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_money_325\/5b708b979c2d3681a88916297f8aaf82\" alt=\"College graduates face a daunting job market in 2026, but there are signs of a turnaround.\" width=\"960\" height=\"623\" data-nimg=\"1\" \/><button class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-rapid_p=\"11\" data-y-link-id=\"0q0j09r1fmvtla0gg6cg\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div>College graduates face a daunting job market in 2026, but there are signs of a turnaround.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">College graduates face a challenging job market. . .<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">College graduates face a\u00a0daunting\u00a0job market. The\u00a0unemployment rate\u00a0for college graduates\u00a0ages 22 to 27\u00a0was 5.6% in March, according to federal data. The overall unemployment rate was 4.2%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The share of unemployed workers who are new to the workforce recently hit a 37-year high, according to a\u00a0report\u00a0by the Groundwork Collaborative and Fortune magazine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Over the past few years, the job market for new graduates has grown steadily worse, a hiring drought that evokes memories of the Great Recession.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<div id=\"recirc-7831a79c-5e5c-3525-ba99-1553e40e33b0\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<div class=\"grid gap-4 lg:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-rows-[auto_auto_1fr]\">\n<div class=\"relative w-full\">\n<div id=\"_r_5f_\" class=\"absolute inset-0 rounded-[4px] focus-within:ring-2 focus-within:ring-link\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Roughly half of employers rated the job market for college graduates as \u201cfair\u201d or \u201cpoor\u201d in a\u00a02025\u00a0survey\u00a0by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The share of employers\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0pessimistic\u00a0view of the job market\u00a0for new grads\u00a0has been rising every year since 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Companies have been hiring less because of a shaky economy, budget cuts, a reduction in hiring overall\u00a0and encroaching AI, among other factors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"-mx-4 mb-5 max-w-[750px] md:mx-0\">\n<div class=\"relative md:overflow-hidden md:rounded-lg\">\n<div class=\"absolute left-3 top-1\/2 z-1 -translate-y-1\/2 md:left-6\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"_r_42_\" class=\"no-scrollbar flex snap-x snap-mandatory overflow-y-hidden overflow-x-scroll\">\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"true\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"0\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"0\">\n<div class=\"relative overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 blur-3xl\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain object-center\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ev.3UUkjzw5qg0Tlho_kmQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_slideshows_242\/cd5caf775d5263b1352961cf73f16104\" alt=\"\" data-nimg=\"fill\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm sr-only pr-2.5 text-tertiary\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Congratulations to the class of 2026! Check out which Hollywood stars are showing up at college campuses across the country to deliver\u00a0commencement speeches.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Jackman delivered the keynote speech at Ball State University&#8217;s spring 2026 commencement ceremony on May 2, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>(Ball State University)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"false\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"relative overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 blur-3xl\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain object-center\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/3u2Gxxnd5ZGLe7.Qo2X5oA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_slideshows_242\/e547dab65814482c9b59f7883a6ced34\" alt=\"\" data-nimg=\"fill\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm sr-only pr-2.5 text-tertiary\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Queen Latifah addressed nearly 2,000 graduates as the keynote speaker at the spring commencement for the nation&#8217;s largest HBCU, North Carolina A&amp;T State University, on May 9, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>(North Carolina A&amp;T State University)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"false\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"false\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"false\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"size-full shrink-0\" data-inview=\"false\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"5\">\n<div class=\"snap-start snap-always\" data-slide-index=\"5\">\n<div class=\"relative overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"absolute inset-0 blur-3xl\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-contain object-center\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kCKowBrnsNWtfIy9PlIYYw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/usa_today_slideshows_242\/271a7c575d4174ca554fea63275da6c9\" alt=\"\" data-nimg=\"fill\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm sr-only pr-2.5 text-tertiary\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Actor Henry Winkler speaks at Emerson College&#8217;s 2026 graduation on May 9, 2026 in Boston.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>(Lisa Aileen Dragani, Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"absolute right-3 top-1\/2 z-1 -translate-y-1\/2 md:right-6\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mx-4 md:mx-0\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<h2 class=\"text-base font-bold text-primary\">These celebrities are giving college graduation speeches in 2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative text-sm line-clamp-2 pr-2.5 text-tertiary\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Congratulations to the class of 2026! Check out which Hollywood stars are showing up at college campuses across the country to deliver\u00a0commencement speeches.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Jackman delivered the keynote speech at Ball State University&#8217;s spring 2026 commencement ceremony on May 2, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>(Ball State University)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">. . . But there are signs of a turnaround<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But there are signs of a turnaround.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The latest\u00a0Job\u00a0Outlook\u00a0from NACE, released in April, projects a 5.6% increase in hiring of new college graduates\u00a0this year. Among 166 employers surveyed, 34%\u00a0predicted increased\u00a0hires, while only 11% expected decreasing\u00a0hires.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Many companies expect to hire more new graduates because they are in growth mode, building a talent pipeline and reaping increased demand for their products or services, the report said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Salaries are rising for new college graduates, according to another\u00a0new\u00a0NACE\u00a0report. The survey shows projected salaries rising across most fields.\u00a0Computer science graduates are projected to earn $81,535, a 6.9% increase. Communications graduates are projected to earn $63,767, a 5.7% jump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019re seeing more positive signs in the labor market,\u201d said\u00a0Mary Gatta, director of research\u00a0and public policy\u00a0at NACE.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One promising sign, Gatta said, is that employers are talking less about AI replacing entry-level workers. In\u00a0a\u00a0recent\u00a0survey, only 11% of employers said they were discussing eliminating jobs over AI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe need for AI skills is increasing, which is not hugely surprising,\u201d Gatta said. \u201cBut we asked employers how they wanted recent college grads to use AI, and it really is about augmenting jobs, it\u2019s not about replacing jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gatta has\u00a0some\u00a0tips for current college students.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">GPAs don\u2019t matter as much to potential employers today as in the past, she said. The share of employers who screen applicants for GPA dropped from 73% in 2019 to 37% in 2023 and\u00a0remains\u00a0low,\u00a0NACE\u00a0surveys show.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-accent\/2 pb-5 md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"py-2 text-center text-xs uppercase\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Instead, employers are looking more at experience and skills. Internships are particularly important: When choosing between equally qualified applicants, employers cited internships as the\u00a0top deciding factor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSo, internships are really important, in terms of recruiting,\u201d Gatta said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:\u00a0College grads expect an $80k salary. They may be disappointed<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Newly minted college graduates may have to manage their expectations about that first job. The average college student<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[88,7,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","category-news","category-us"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3235"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3237,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3235\/revisions\/3237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.cedritech.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}