The Top 20 Entry-Level Positions for the Class of 2017

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New college graduates
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Graduation season is upon us, which means members of the class of 2017 soon will be looking for jobs.

To help guide them, WalletHub analyzed and ranked 109 entry-level positions.

The financial data site judged each position based on 12 metrics, from median starting salary and number of job openings to income growth potential and projected job growth. It also looked at job hazards — fatal injuries and the likelihood of working more than 40 hours per week.

Each position was then given an overall score out of 100. The No. 1 ranked job, engineer I, received a score of 75.08. Job No. 109, welder I, received a 26.31.

The top 20 entry-level positions earned scores ranging from that 75.08 for engineer I to 60.62 for systems engineering technician I:

  1. Engineer I
  2. Systems engineer I
  3. Architect I
  4. Web applications developer I
  5. Electrical engineer I
  6. Safety representative I
  7. Training specialist I
  8. Software engineer I
  9. Electronics engineer I
  10. Chemical engineer I
  11. Env., health and safety engineer I
  12. Certified nursing assistant (nursing home)
  13. Industrial engineer I
  14. Designer I – Web
  15. Aerospace engineer I
  16. Network engineer I
  17. Attorney I
  18. Safety technician I
  19. Biomedical engineer I
  20. Systems engineering technician I

Clearly, the top 20 entry-level positions are dominated by job titles that include the word “engineer” or “engineering.” Other technical positions also did well.

This is a trend we’ve only seen grow in recent years. Just take a look at Glassdoor’s latest annual list of the best jobs in America, for example.

High-school graduates in the class of 2017 would be wise to note such job-market patterns before choosing a college major. As we explain in “Looking for a High-Paying Job? You’d Better Learn This Skill,” having certain skill sets directly impacts your income.

If you’re a college graduate in the class of 2017 who is perhaps second-guessing a choice of major or struggling to find a job, check out “Ask Stacy: Why Can’t My Son Find a Job?” In that article, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson addresses parents whose son was struggling to find a job after earning a master’s degree. Stacy details five possible reasons for their son’s job-hunting struggles — none of which is his lack of experience.

What piece of advice would you give to college graduates today? Sound off below or on our Facebook page.

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