Jobs for New Grads: 22 Entry-Level Roles With Pay and Outlook

The best jobs for new grads in 2026 include software developer, data scientist, financial analyst, accountant, logistician, project management specialist, market research analyst and engineering roles, all of which typically require only a bachelor’s degree and pay well above the national median. Below are 22 roles with Bureau of Labor Statistics pay and outlook data, where to find new grad openings and how to land one faster.

Key takeaways

• Entry-level hiring has been tight: recent grads aged 22 to 27 had about 5.6% unemployment in Q2 2026, and 42% were underemployed (New York Fed).
• The outlook is improving: employers expected to hire 5.6% more Class of 2026 graduates than the previous class (NACE).
• All 22 roles below typically require a bachelor’s degree and have median pay above the $50,980 median for all occupations.
• Applying early matters. Many new grad roles and summer 2027 internships are already posted this fall.

The new grad job market in 2026

Recent graduates have had a harder time than usual. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that early-career graduates (ages 22 to 27) had an unemployment rate of about 5.6% in the second quarter of 2026, and the underemployment rate edged up to 42%, meaning many are working in jobs that don’t require a degree (New York Fed).

The picture is brightening. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that employers expected to increase hiring from the Class of 2026 by 5.6%, after two lackluster years, with companies of more than 5,000 employees increasing hiring by 8.7% (NACE). Competition is still strong, so speed and targeting matter.

If you’re still choosing a direction, the AI student career helper suggests entry-level paths that match your skills, and an automated job search can scan 50,000+ company career pages daily for new grad openings in those fields.

22 jobs for new grads at a glance

Job	Median pay (May 2025)	Growth 2025–35	Typical entry
Software developer	$135,980	10% (group)	Bachelor’s
Actuary	$130,000	9%	Bachelor’s + exams
Information security analyst	$129,180	21%	Bachelor’s + some experience
Data scientist	$120,230	35%	Bachelor’s
Construction manager	$114,990	9%	Bachelor’s
Computer systems analyst	$105,850	8%	Bachelor’s
Mechanical engineer	$104,110	11%	Bachelor’s
Financial analyst	$103,570	7%	Bachelor’s
Industrial engineer	$102,440	12%	Bachelor’s
Project management specialist	$102,320	7%	Bachelor’s
Management analyst	$101,860	10%	Bachelor’s + some experience
Civil engineer	$100,840	6%	Bachelor’s
Registered nurse	$97,550	6%	Bachelor’s
Financial examiner	$94,160	9%	Bachelor’s
Web developer	$92,650	5% (group)	Bachelor’s
Operations research analyst	$88,940	12%	Bachelor’s
Accountant or auditor	$83,680	5%	Bachelor’s
Logistician	$82,320	18%	Bachelor’s
Compliance officer	$80,730	4%	Bachelor’s
Market research analyst	$78,760	7%	Bachelor’s
Human resources specialist	$75,940	6%	Bachelor’s
Training and development specialist	$69,280	11%	Bachelor’s + some experience

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, accessed October 7, 2026. Medians cover all experience levels, so starting pay is usually lower. “Group” means BLS reports growth for a broader occupation group.

Tech and data roles

Software developer. The highest median on the list at $135,980, with about 106,100 openings a year projected for developers, QA analysts and testers combined (BLS). Entry-level competition is intense, so a portfolio of shipped projects matters.

Data scientist. The fastest-growing role here at 35%, with a $120,230 median (BLS). Statistics, SQL and Python projects help graduates from math, economics and science programs stand out.

Information security analyst. A $129,180 median and 21% growth, but BLS notes the role typically requires some related work experience, so many graduates start in IT support or security operations first (BLS).

Computer systems analyst and web developer. Systems analysts ($105,850) bridge business needs and technology; web developers ($92,650) build sites and applications. Both welcome strong portfolios.

Operations research analyst. Uses math and modeling to improve decisions, with 12% growth and an $88,940 median (BLS).

Business and finance roles

Accountant or auditor. About 115,300 openings a year and an $83,680 median make this one of the most reliable entry points for business graduates (BLS). BLS notes that becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) may improve job prospects, and accountants who file reports with the SEC must be CPAs.

Financial analyst and financial examiner. Analysts ($103,570) guide investment decisions; examiners ($94,160, 9% growth) check that financial institutions follow the rules.

Actuary. A $130,000 median with 9% growth. Actuaries pass a series of professional exams, often starting during college (BLS).

Project management specialist and management analyst. Project roles ($102,320) often start as coordinator jobs; management analysts ($101,860) usually join consulting firms as analysts.

Logistician. 18% projected growth and about 26,600 openings a year, with an $82,320 median, which makes supply chain a strong bet for business and engineering grads (BLS).

Market research analyst, HR specialist, compliance officer, training specialist. Solid entry points for business, psychology and communications graduates, with medians from $69,280 to $80,730 and steady demand.

Engineering and construction roles

Mechanical, industrial and civil engineers earn medians between $100,840 and $104,110. Industrial engineering stands out with 12% growth (BLS). Construction managers ($114,990, 9% growth) often start as assistant project managers after a construction management or engineering degree.

Healthcare

Registered nurse. About 180,800 openings a year, the most on this list, with a $97,550 median. Nurses must be licensed after completing their nursing program (BLS). Many hospitals also run new grad nurse residency programs that combine a paid role with structured training, so search for “new grad RN residency” in your area.

Entry-level titles to search for, by major

New grad roles rarely use the same title as the occupation. Search for these instead:

Your major	Titles to search
Business, economics	Financial analyst I, staff accountant, business analyst, operations associate, supply chain analyst
Computer science, IT	Software engineer (new grad), junior developer, IT support analyst, SOC analyst, data analyst
Math, statistics	Data analyst, actuarial analyst, quantitative analyst, operations research analyst
Engineering	Associate engineer, engineer I, field engineer, process engineer, assistant project manager
Psychology, sociology	HR coordinator, recruiting coordinator, research assistant, training coordinator
Communications, English	Marketing coordinator, content associate, PR assistant, communications specialist
Nursing, health sciences	New grad RN (residency programs), patient care coordinator, health educator

Add “entry level,” “associate,” “junior,” “I,” “graduate program” or “rotational program” to your searches to surface more relevant postings.

What starting pay really looks like

The medians in the table cover workers at every experience level, so most graduates start below them. For a more realistic starting point, look up the 10th and 25th percentile wages for your occupation and metro area in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, and compare them with the salary ranges posted in job ads. A growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings, which makes this comparison easier.

Graduate programs vs. regular entry-level jobs

Large employers often run structured graduate or rotational programs: a cohort of new hires, formal training and rotations across teams, usually with application deadlines in the fall or early spring. Regular entry-level jobs are posted year-round and filled one at a time. Programs offer structure and a network; regular roles often move faster and let you specialize sooner. Apply to both, and track their very different timelines.

Turning internships and projects into experience

Employers expect new grads to have limited work history, so the way you present what you have matters:

• Give each internship, research project or major class project its own entry with dates and a one-line description.
• Write bullets as results: “Built a dashboard tracking 2,000 survey responses used by the dean’s office” beats “Worked on a dashboard.”
• Include part-time and campus jobs; they show reliability, customer skills and time management.
• Link to a portfolio, GitHub profile or writing samples where relevant.

Where to find new grad jobs

• Your career center and campus recruiting platforms. Employers that recruit at your school post there first.
• Company career pages. Search for “new grad,” “university,” “early careers” or “graduate program” on employers you like. Many new grad roles never reach job boards.
• LinkedIn and job boards. Filter for entry level and sort by most recent. Postings for roles starting in summer 2027 are already appearing.
• Federal jobs. The government’s Pathways Recent Graduates Program is open to people who graduated within the previous two years (six years for some veterans) (U.S. Department of Labor).
• Community-curated lists. Some new grad job lists are maintained on GitHub and specialist sites; check that postings link to the employer’s own site.

Missed summer internships in 2026?

If you searched for summer internships in 2026 and came up short, the next cycle has already started. Many employers recruit for summer 2027 internships and full-time new grad roles in the fall, and NACE noted employers expected to increase intern hiring for their summer programs by nearly 4%. Apply now, and consider fall or spring internships, part-time roles in your field, or a project that shows the skills employers ask for.

How to land a new grad job faster

1. Target three to five job titles, not “anything in business.”
2. Write a results-focused resume that treats internships, projects and campus roles as experience. Our guide to tailoring your resume to a job description shows how.
3. Apply in the first days after a posting goes live.
4. Send consistent volume. See how many jobs to apply for a day.
5. Network with alumni in your target companies; one referral can outweigh dozens of cold applications.
6. Prepare for interviews early with our list of interview practice questions.
7. Track everything so you can follow up on time.

If you’re applying but hearing nothing back, our diagnostic guide on why you’re not getting interviews walks through the usual causes. Unsure which path fits your degree? Try one of the best free career quizzes, or see degree-specific ideas in jobs with a psychology degree and jobs with a biology degree.

A weekly plan for your new grad search

Day	Focus
Monday	Check new postings at target companies and apply to the freshest
Tuesday	Tailor and send applications; message one alumnus
Wednesday	Work on a portfolio project or certification module
Thursday	Applications plus one practice interview
Friday	Follow up on last week’s applications and update your tracker

Ten to fifteen focused hours a week, kept up through the fall and spring recruiting seasons, is usually more effective than occasional all-day bursts.

Common mistakes new grads make

• Waiting until after graduation. Many roles are filled months before.
• Applying only through big job boards. Company career pages and alumni often work better.
• Listing duties instead of results. “Analyzed survey data from 400 students” beats “Helped with research.”
• Ignoring adjacent titles. “Analyst,” “associate” and “coordinator” roles are often the same entry point.
• Giving up after a slow month. Hiring for graduates is seasonal; keep a steady pace.

More guides for your search are in our job search section.

New grad hiring rewards speed and consistency, which is exactly what JobsAICopilot automates: it scans company career pages daily and applies to entry-level roles that match your filters. Start with the AI student career helper and see plans on the pricing page.