Industries with UK's top graduate salaries revealed

THE highest starting wages for UK graduates are in the fields of media, construction and administration, according to a new study.

The research, conducted by leading independent job board CV-Library, looked at over 5,400 graduate job postings and discovered that the average starting salary is £24,804.

With graduates facing high levels of debt, averaging around £44,000 say educational think tank Sutton Trust, starting salaries are increasingly pertinent.

In addition to monitoring average starting salaries, CV-Library also surveyed 1,000 recent graduates on their approach to employment and discovered some interesting attitudes.

Whilst 80% of graduates think that their salary is more important than their job title, the same amount is afraid to ask their boss for a pay-rise.

When it comes to the application process, nearly one fifth (18%) of grads have failed to turn up to an interview and nearly a third (29%) admit to making a huge mistake in front of a potential employer. And, while it always takes extra time, over two thirds ensure they send a tailored cover letter with every job application, yet the same 66% find it frustrating to do so.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library said: “It’s interesting to see that certain sectors are offering far higher starting salaries than others, though not entirely surprising.

“Some of these industries, such as construction, law and education, require specific skill-sets and qualifications, for example.

“But, there could also be an explanation for some of the other sectors. With the media industry, for example, a lot of graduate positions can be commercial, rather than creative or editorial, which often come with a higher pay package.”

“Whichever role you’re applying for, whether it has a lower starting salary, or a higher one, you need to make sure you’re prepared.

“With the right practice and research – whether that’s where you’re meeting the interviewer, or typical interview questions – you’ll have a better chance of securing the job and setting off on your first graduate position post-university!”