New University of Southern California Grads Reveal Their Starting Salaries—And the $45K Gap Between Majors Is Brutal

Core Insights - Recent graduates from the University of Southern California (USC) are entering high-paying roles in tech and consulting, with starting salaries exceeding $100,000, while graduates from other fields face lower compensation levels [1][2][3] - The post-pandemic labor market has created significant salary disparities, particularly affecting graduates in fields like architecture, where starting salaries range from $55,000 to $65,000 despite extensive education [6][7] Salary Trends - Engineering and tech roles are leading the salary scale, with positions such as AI engineer and sales engineering offering compensation above $100,000 [2][3] - Consulting roles for computer science and business administration graduates report base salaries around $86,000 to $87,000, with additional bonuses of $7,000 to $8,000 [4] - Biomedical engineering roles in cardiac rhythm management also provide salaries in the $80,000 to $100,000 range [4] Job Market Dynamics - Graduates indicate that securing high-paying positions requires considerable effort, with intense competition in the job market [5] - The architecture field presents a stark contrast, where graduates face a challenging job market and lower starting salaries despite a lengthy educational commitment [6][7]