Best And Worst 2017 Entry Level Jobs

With graduation season nearly upon us, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on 2017’s Best and Worst Entry-Level Jobs.

Taking stock of the first-timer employment landscape, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 100 different types of entry-level positions based on 12 key metrics.

The data set ranges from median starting salary to projected job growth by 2024 to median tenure with employer.

Best Entry-Level Jobs Worst Entry-Level Jobs
1. Engineer I 100. Sheetmetal Mechanic I
2. Systems Engineer I 101. Machinist I
3. Architect I 102. Carpenter I
4. Web Applications Developer I 103. Aircraft Painter I
5. Electrical Engineer I 104. Automotive Mechanic I
6. Safety Representative I 105. Tool and Die Maker I
7. Training Specialist I 106. Plumber I
8. Software Engineer I 107. Boilermaker I
9. Electronics Engineer I 108. Floor Assembler I
10. Chemical Engineer I 109. Welder I

Best vs. Worst

  • Tax attorneys have the highest median starting salary, $93,899, which is 5.8 times higher than that of a college teaching assistant, the job with the lowest at $16,077.
  • Employee-relations specialists have the highest income growth potential, 6.2, which is 3.4 times higher than that of a bank teller, the job with the lowest at 1.8.
  • Benefits administrators have the longest median tenure with their employers, 6.3 years, which is two times higher than that of a certified occupational-therapy assistant, the job with the shortest at 3.1 years.
  • Certified occupational-therapy assistants have the highest projected job growth by 2024, 42.7 percent.
  • Although web-application developers and software engineers are among the 10 best entry-level jobs, computer operators have the grimmest job outlook, with 19 percent of jobs in the field projected to be cut by 2024.

For a complete list of the 100 different jobs click here.