Employment Preferences and Salary Expectations of Students in Science and Engineering

Abstract

What kinds of workplace are current life sciences students, and other students in science and engineering, willing to work in? What kinds of salaries do they expect to earn upon graduation? How well do the salary expectations of life sciences students match the reality of the job market? Do white and minority life sciences students have similar work preferences and salary expectations? This article examines these issues by analyzing data from a national study of college students in science and engineering fields, conducted by the author. Students expressed a willingness to work in a variety of institutional settings upon graduation, and their salary expectations were comparable to what employers are paying new graduates. However, the study also found racial and gender differences in workplace preferences and salary expectations.