Survey: College Grads Base Salaries 10% Higher in 2006

August 1, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Results from Compensation Resources, Inc.'s 2006 College Graduate Salary Survey indicate the average base salary for graduates is 10% higher in 2006 than in 2005.

The average base salary in 2006 was $44,894, compared to $40,748 in 2005, according to a company press release on the survey. Annual bonus amounts are virtually the same for both years; however, the number of employers offering a bonus increased from 28% in 2005 to 46% in 2006.

The survey also found that publicly-traded and privately-held companies provided higher base salaries, annual bonus/incentives and signing bonus/incentives compared with not-for-profit organizations, the release said.

For both 2005 and 2006, the most frequently stated functional areas in which companies expected to hire the most college graduates included accounting, actuarial, engineering, information technology, marketing, product development, and sales. The majority of survey respondents indicated that turnover rates for recent college graduates was 15% or less.

Information for ordering the survey can be found at http://www.CompensationResources.com .

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