New grads are the most coveted employees by recruiters. But not all new grads are created equal – some new grads are more enticing to companies than others. How do you know if your new grad resume will grab their attention?
The best companies for new graduates 2021 are not always the ones that offer the most money. Forbes has released a list of best employers for new college graduates. To determine this list, Forbes looks at salary levels, starting bonus and computer skills, as well as a company’s attractiveness with a group of managers and recruiters.
Average Software Engineer Salary
Software engineers make on average one hundred thousand dollars a year. Especially if you are a young grad out of school, the job’s versatile nature and the six-figure initial salary leave you in an excellent position to grow.
The highest ten percent of software engineers earn $157,590, and the lowest ten percent of software engineers $58,300.
While most grads tend to struggle to find work with a decent salary in their area, software engineers can be relatively certain that their skills will be needed and that their salary will allow them to set up a comfortable life.
Average Salary, by Location
Different regions of the United States are known for different industries. New York and Los Angeles are cultural hubs. Middle America is known for agriculture and manufacturing. Broader California, places like San Jose and San Francisco, are known for their tech sector.
Depending on how thriving the tech sector is in a particular place, there may be a surplus of booming companies competing for the best talent. If you end up in the right region, it is worth its weight in gold.
Different areas offer different value, here are some of the best:
1. Seattle, WA
On four different metrics, Seattle may be the best value for a software engineer. Software engineer’s working near the home of Microsoft can expect a real adjusted salary of $105,735, and a median base salary of $113,242. Both of these figures are relatively high.
Seattle also has a fair share of job openings, at 4,205. Compared to other regions, Seattle has double the amount of job openings. Comparatively speaking, with a cost of living of about seven times the average, Seattle is less expensive than other potential landing spots.
2. San Jose, CA
San Jose is at the heart of Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the world. Silicon Valley is a high risk, high reward landing spot. Lots of competition, lots of opportunities. Software engineers in San Jose make a real adjusted salary of little over one hundred grand, but their median base salary is about $122,000.
Despite its boom potential, San Jose falls behind Seattle in other areas. Its cost of living is twenty percent above the national average, considerably higher than that of Seattle.
There are also fewer job opportunities, at 2,017, which is about half as many opportunities as Seattle.
3. San Francisco, CA
Also in the vicinity of Silicon Valley is San Francisco, which also has a thriving tech sector. It has the same highly competitive, highly opportunistic atmosphere that San Jose does. Software engineers in San Francisco can expect a real adjusted salary of just under one hundred thousand dollars, but a median base salary of $120,000.
Being in approximately the same area, San Jose and San Francisco have a similar amount of job opportunities and cost of living, both considerably lower and higher than Seattle’s.
Amazon
What does Amazon do? It’s hard to live in 2020 without some idea of what Amazon does. The e-commerce giant employs hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and has ventured into other realms of technology like web services, live-streaming through Twitch, audiobooks through Audible, e-reading through Kindle, and more. You can read more about the company on its blog.
Where is Amazon located? Amazon operates all over the world, but its headquarters are located in Seattle, WA.
Amazon is considered one of the “Big Five” technology companies.
Apple
What does Apple do? There’s a good chance you’re reading this on an iPhone or with a Mac computer, which means you’re already familiar with Apple’s product line! This tech giant sells consumer electronics, develops software, and hosts online services.
Where is Apple located? Apple’s headquarters are located in Cupertino, CA, though the company has offices around the world.
Apple is considered one of the “Big Five” technology companies.
eBay
What does eBay do? “eBay Inc. is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Our portfolio of brands includes eBay Marketplace and eBay Classifieds Group, operating in 190 markets around the world,” reads the company’s website.
Where is eBay located? eBay has offices around the world, but is headquartered in San Jose, CA.
What does Facebook do? With nearly 2.5 billion monthly active users, Facebook is undoubtedly one of the most popular social media platforms of all time. However, if you need a quick refresher about what the company offers, here’s a quick rundown from Facebook’s “about” page: “Our main services include the Facebook app, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, Workplace, Portal and Calibra. These apps and technologies have shared infrastructure for years and the teams behind them frequently work together.”
Where is Facebook located? Facebook has offices all over the world, but its headquarters are in Menlo Park, CA.
Facebook is considered one of the “Big Five” technology companies.
Lyft
What does Lyft do? For many people in urban populations around the world, Lyft immediately comes to mind when you need a ride. Founded in 2012, the on-demand ridesharing company has quickly become a staple in many riders’ and drivers’ lives.
Where is Lyft located? Lyft functions across the globe, but the company’s HQ is in San Francisco, CA.
Microsoft
What does Microsoft do? A better question might be what Microsoft doesn’t do! One of the original tech giants, Microsoft has sold computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services since its inception in 1975.
Where is Microsoft located? This large organization has many offices around the world, but its headquarters are located in Redmond, WA.
Microsoft is considered one of the “Big Five” technology companies.
Oracle
What does Oracle do? Oracle creates many products that help your favorite companies function, like database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products. According to the company’s about page: “Our mission is to help people see data in new ways, discover insights, unlock endless possibilities.”
Where is Oracle located? Like most other companies on this list, Oracle has offices all over the world. However, its headquarters are located in Redwood City, CA.
PayPal
What does PayPal do? PayPal makes it easy to perform monetary transactions digitally, enabling you to pay and get paid seamlessly from anywhere. “PayPal provides an easy and quick way to send and request money online. You can transfer money (abroad) to family, friends, online shops, and auction sites like eBay,” describes the company.
Where is PayPal located? PayPal’s headquarters are located in San Jose, CA, but the company has locations all around the world.
Salesforce
What does Salesforce do? Even if you’ve never used Salesforce as an employee, you’ve definitely experienced the company’s impact as a customer! “Salesforce is a customer relationship management solution that brings companies and customers together. It’s one integrated CRM platform that gives all your departments — including marketing, sales, commerce, and service — a single, shared view of every customer,” describes the organization’s website.
Where is Salesforce located? Salesforce is a worldwide organization, but its headquarters are in San Francisco, CA.
Tesla
What does Tesla do? While you might know Tesla for its flashy vehicles, the company does more than design and manufacture electric cars; it also specializes in developing and maintaining energy storage systems and solar products.
Where is Tesla located? The company’s headquarters are currently located in Palo Alto, CA.
What does Twitter do? You might think of Twitter as the go-to place to share your thoughts, read up on breaking news, or stay in-the-know about all the latest happenings online. That’s not far off from how the company describes itself! “Twitter is what’s happening in the world and what people are talking about right now. When it happens it happens on Twitter. See what people are talking about,” reads the company’s information page.
Where is Twitter located? Twitter has offices all over the world, but its headquarters are in San Francisco, CA.
Google is the textbook landing spot for a young, talented software engineer. They are a massive institution in modern life, and the benefits of working there reflect that.
Google hires the best and brightest. Their starting salary for software engineers reflects that as well, at $180,000 annually. A new grad would be hard-pressed to find a better starting salary, regardless of the field they are in.
Google also provides stock options and a sizeable benefits package, which covers all one’s needs and more. Google offers other perquisites like rides to work and a lunch buffet.
Overall, Google is known for its employee-friendly culture and is a coveted landing spot for new grads.
Conclusion:
Any college grad looking for the best companies for new graduates 2021 will be happy to know that there are plenty of software development jobs available. It feels great to make the realization that you are now free to choose any career path you want. A lot of people get excited and jump right in, but it’s more prudent to do some research first before jumping in headfirst. It’s important to find out what your options are and get data-driven suggestions from experts on what path would be best for you.