<p>We should compare starting salaries for BS engineering graduates and MS engineering students fresh out of college, i.e. those with less than 1 year of work experience. The info comes from payscale’s national salary survey. </p>
<p>For employees with less than 1 year experience:</p>
<p>BS Chem: 61,000
MS Chem:62,000</p>
<p>BS Aero: 58,000
MS Aero: 62,000</p>
<p>BS Biomedical: 52,000
MS Biomedical: 56,000</p>
<p>BS Civil: 50,000
MS Civil: 52,000</p>
<p>BS Electrical: 59,000
MS Electrical: 75,000</p>
<p>BS Mechanical: 58,000
MS Mechanical: 60,000</p>
<p>BS Materials: 57,000
MS Materials: 61,000</p>
<p>BS Industrial: 52,000
MS Industrial: 48,000</p>
<p>BS Engineering: 60,000
MS Engineering: 55,000</p>
<p>There’s also the danger of overqualifying yourself for entry-level positions.</p>
<p>I maintain the position that master’s degrees should be used for career advancement and not as entry into the workforce. In the business world it is expected that you have 2-5 years experience before going for your MBA and for good reason. Maybe engineering is different but I have to think the same principle applies.</p>