A recent study has revealed the average starting salaries for Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates in various industries, highlighting which fields are worth pursuing a Master’s degree in and which are not. While many students hope that obtaining a Master’s degree will lead to higher earnings, the study shows that this is not always the case. However, having a Master’s degree can increase future career opportunities and make it easier to advance to leadership positions. According to Philip Bierbach, CEO of Gehalt.de, “Those who want to increase their salary have better chances with a Master’s degree.”
The study analyzed the salaries of over 13,000 entry-level professionals across different industries. It found that in some industries, Bachelor’s graduates earn more on average than Master’s graduates. However, in many top industries, having a Master’s degree leads to a significant salary increase, with average annual salaries exceeding €50,000. On the other hand, there are also industries where Master’s graduates earn significantly less than their Bachelor’s counterparts.
The discrepancy in salaries can be attributed to various factors, such as the financial strength of the industry, high demands on employees, and the shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the technical field. The study also revealed that careers in technical research and development are among the highest paying jobs for both Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates. Those with a Bachelor’s degree in this field earn an average starting salary of around €48,800 per year, while a Master’s degree can increase this by approximately €4,000 annually.
Overall, the study found that Master’s graduates earn an average of €250 more per month than Bachelor’s graduates. However, it is not always necessary to obtain a Master’s degree to earn a high salary. In industries with a high demand for skilled workers, a Bachelor’s degree can also lead to a substantial annual income.
