Recent college graduates can look forward to higher starting salaries when seeking out their first entry level job.

A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers revealed today's average starting salary is 4 percent higher than last year's, according to an article on CNN.

"Employers are showing interest in graduates from all sectors," Nathan Lippe, senior career adviser for CBcampus.com said in the article. "But, they're also seeing extra competition in certain fields. As a new graduate, your best bet is to research your industry and know what you're worth to get the most out of new job and salary prospects."

Engineering services and accounting firms are the most interested in recent graduates, according to the study. Engineering graduates collectively will see a 5.7 percent starting salary increase to $56,336.

Among the engineering industry, chemical engineering majors will see a starting salary increase of 6.2 percent to $63,749, civil engineering graduates will see 4.8 percent increase to $49,427, electrical engineering majors will see a 3.5 percent increase to $56,512 and mechanical engineering graduates will see a 3.4 percent increase to $56,429.

Consulting, financial services, retail and petroleum companies also are looking for new hires, and as a result, many of these industries are offering higher starting salaries. Finance and accounting graduates will see a 1.9 percent starting salary increase to $48,795 and $47,413, respectively. Business administration and management graduates will see an increase of less than 1 percent to $43,823.

Those who will see the highest salary increases include those with liberal arts degrees, with an average salary offer increased to $33,258. Graduates with technical degrees will see 7.9 percent higher salaries at $56,921 and marketing graduates will see a 5.2 percent salary increase to $43,459.

Graduates applying for entry level jobs also can expect higher starting salaries in the following areas:

• economics at $52,926
• nursing at $52,129
• chemistry at $52,125
• political science and government at $43,594
• human resources at $40,250
• history at $35,956
• communications at $35,196
• English language and literature at $34,757
• journalism at $32,250
• psychology at $30,877
• public relations and organizational communications at $30,667