Thursday, July 31, 2008

A Run-Up to the Reunion

At 10-year college reunions, there are always people bragging about their career success. But even the ones who stay quiet and smile may be doing well.

Most college graduates see their annual pay at least double in their first decade out of school, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, unless they major in education or health. Researchers tracked 1992-93 college graduates for 10 years.

As a group, their pay doubled to $60,600. (The pay figures are all restated as 2003 dollars to erase effects of inflation.)

Some fared even better: Computer science majors who earned $33,400 on average one year after graduation were eventually drawing $72,600. Biological science majors went from $29,200 to $62,200. Social and behavioral science majors experienced the largest gain -- 135 percent -- to $62,300, as many earned advanced degrees that led to bigger paychecks.

Education majors had the smallest salary gain, going from $26,600 to $43,800. But most of them probably knew upfront that they weren't going into teaching for the money. So they can still smile proudly at the reunion.

-- Vickie Elmer