As the job market soars to new peaks of activity, annual salaries are rising more strongly than they have for some years. Average increases in salary this year will be in the region of 3.5 per cent. New graduates leaving university this summer can expect salaries in the broad range from £14 000 to £26 000. Some of those starting a career in financial services will also be offered "golden hellos" of up to £3000 simply for signing up to join. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters' (AGR) annual survey of what salary 264 of its members paid people graduating in 1997, the median was £15 500, which is expected to rise this year to around £16 000. New PhDs are being offered salaries in the range of £17 000 to £20 000 and those with Master's degrees £16 500 to £18 000. And recruiters are placing increasing emphasis on work experience. At first-degree level, they pay more to recruits who have relevant work experience—averaging £750 a year more than the graduate median salary for those who have completed sandwich courses, taken a placement or undertaken relevant vacation work.
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