New evidence shows as more employers scramble to ramp up innovation, a STEM degree could be the graduates fast-track to financial and professional success.

Average starting salaries for new college graduates with a bachelor’s degree have risen 3.4% over the last year, according to a new report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a non-profit group that links college career placement offices with employers. Once again, careers in the technology and science majors offer some of the highest paying salaries. Please keep in mind the importance of instruction in the technology areas as you begin to consider what will be taught at your school next year.

The January 2013 Salary Survey issue marks the fourth report using NACE’s new data collection method. This new and improved report contains employer-based data (from approximately 400,000 employers) gathered from government and other sources, and the data are actual starting salaries, not offers.

Here is how the majors ranked by average salary:

For career exploration, here is a link to College Majors for Students Interested in Computer Science and STEM in California.

Here is a link to examples of STEM Elective Courses your curriculum committees may wish to review: The ICT Sector Course List