ZipRecruiter Study Finds Expectations and Reality Collide for the Graduating Class of 2025

Annual Grad Survey reveals insights into recent and rising grads’ job search experience, pay expectations, job preferences, and the future job market

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZipRecruiter®, a leading online employment marketplace, released its annual grad report, The Graduate Divide: Expectations vs. Reality for the Class of 2025. Based on a dual survey of rising and recent college graduates, the report reveals that graduates' expectations often clash with reality—especially when it comes to the job search experience, pay, job preferences, and views of the future job market.

The job search and salary realities:

• Graduates found the job search took longer than they expected. 82% of rising grads are expecting to start working within three months of graduating, however, only 77% of recent grads accomplished that, and 5% are still searching for their first job.
• Graduates found salaries didn’t meet expectations, with 42% of recent grads reporting they couldn’t secure the pay they wanted.
• Rising graduates expect to make six figures ($101,500 on average), but the majority may fall short. The average starting salary for recent grads surveyed was $68,400.
• Rising grads want jobs with flexibility, but recent grads report they are hard to come by. 90% of rising grads say schedule flexibility is very important to them but according to recent grads, they’ll be hard pressed to land such a role as only 29% report having very flexible jobs.

“Navigating the transition from campus to career can be a challenge for new grads, especially given the unpredictable market this class is stepping into. The grads who will come out ahead are those who start their search early, stay open to different paths, and keep at it, even if things don’t go exactly as planned,” said Ian Siegel, ZipRecruiter Co-Founder and CEO. “Remember, your first job isn’t your final destination—it’s just the beginning of your journey.”

Other report highlights include:

• Nursing and allied health topped the charts as the most useful majors based on an in-depth analysis of three stages of the college experience – major selection, job search, and job outcomes.
• Male grads’ salaries are outpacing their female counterparts, with men earning $72,700 per year and women earning $67,500 right out of the gate, on average.
• Internships aren’t converting into full-time employment like they once did, with only 9.7% of recent grads saying an internship or apprenticeship helped them land a job—compared to nearly 40% of rising grads who believe it will be their ticket to full-time work.
• AI is a looming concern for grads, with 47% of new grads and 46% of rising grads believing their field has or will have fewer jobs due to AI.
• Industries hiring the most entry-level roles for recent grads include nursing, special education, and electronics engineering.

To view the full report, including additional data insights and methodology, please visit: ziprecruiter-research.org/annual-grad-report

About ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter® (NYSE: ZIP) is a leading online employment marketplace that actively connects people to their next great opportunity. ZipRecruiter’s powerful matching technology improves the job search experience for job seekers and helps businesses of all sizes find and hire the right candidates quickly. ZipRecruiter has been the #1 rated job search app on iOS & Android for the past eight years¹ and is rated the #1 employment job site by G2.² For more information, visit www.ziprecruiter.com.

1 Based on job seeker app ratings, during the period of January 2017 to January 2025 from AppFollow for ZipRecruiter, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Monster.
2 Based on G2 satisfaction ratings as of January 10, 2025.