Fresh U.S. graduates in big data software engineering earn US$112,000–148,000 annually, making it one of the highest-paying entry-level jobs in 2025, according to U.S. job platform ZipRecruiter.
ZipRecruiter analyzed job postings and salary ranges for 2025 to identify the most common roles in fields where soon-to-be graduates are likely to earn US$100,000 or more, CNBC reported.
Consulting is known to be a high-paying field, and even entry-level workers can secure a six-figure salary right after graduation, according to Sm DeMase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter. Consulting services associates earn between $50,000 and $105,500 per year. He added that candidates with freelance experience in areas like social media or contract work can often negotiate higher starting pay.
“Program management is a very overlooked six-figure entry-level field,” he said. Program analysts, a common starting role in the field, earn between $69,000 and $116,000. He noted that employers highly value skills like multitasking, communication, and leadership potential.
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A group of people work together. Illustration from Pexels |
DeMase also pointed to nursing as a consistently high-paying and in-demand profession. Radiology nurses can earn up to $161,000, while home health physical therapist assistants reach as high as $117,000. The U.S. Department of Labor projects nursing will remain one of the fastest-growing occupations through 2026 due to an aging population and staffing shortages.
Other well-paying roles for new graduates include supply chain managers ($79,000–$133,000) and hydraulics engineers ($98,000–$119,000). Fields like telecommunications, business development, and real estate also offer starting salaries ranging from about $52,000 to over $110,000.
ZipRecruiter’s report notes that starting salaries can vary significantly by location, especially in healthcare and service sectors.
The report also revealed that members of the class of 2025 expect to earn an average of $101,500 in their first job. That figure, based on a survey of over 3,000 recent and upcoming graduates, is far higher than the actual average starting salary of $68,400.
DeMase said several factors contribute to the gap between expectations and reality. “Social media definitely alters the perception of reality for a lot of these rising and recent grads,” he told CNBC. “It puts a lot of wealth on display and can skew that perception by showcasing the exceptions and not the rules.”
Economic pressures such as high rent, student debt, and inflation have also contributed to higher salary expectations among graduates, he said. He added that many college seniors remain unaware of actual market salaries until they start receiving job offers.