How to get off to a good start with your salary

As the latest round of students prepare to hit the job market the top UK graduate salaries by industry have been revealed, with the highest starting wages to be found in media, construction and administration.

The research, conducted by an independent recruitment consultancy, looked at more than 5,400 graduate job postings and discovered that the average starting salary was £24,804.

As graduates are faced with levels of debt like never before – the latest figures from educational thinktank Sutton Trust suggest the average is £44,000 – starting salaries are increasingly pertinent.

The top five industries with the average starting salaries are:

1 Media – average starting salary of £34,244; 2 Construction – £29,530; 3 Administration – £29,007; 4 Legal – £28,030; 5 Education – £27,848.

The bottom five industries with average starting salaries are: 1 Charities – £16,075; 2 Customer Services – £19,948; 3 Marketing – £20,558; 4 Medical – £21,709; 5 Tourism – £21,901. In addition to monitoring average starting salaries, the researchers quizzed 1,000 recent graduates on their approach to employment and discovered some interesting attitudes.

While 80% think their salary is more important than their job title, the same proportion are afraid to ask their boss for a pay rise.

When it comes to the application process, nearly one-fifth (18%) 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, more than two-thirds ensure they send a tailored cover letter with every job application, yet the same 66% find it frustrating to do so.

A spokesman 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.”

Media, construction and administration – good for graduates.