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Firjan Releases Ranking of Professions With Highest Starting Salaries in 2024. The List Includes Engineers, Doctors, and Directors.
Starting a career already earning over R$ 13,000 in initial salary is a reality for some professionals in Brazil. A survey by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), released in 2024, revealed the professions with the highest starting salaries in the country.
The study indicates that seven of the ten best-paid careers are related to engineering, but there is also room for doctors, researchers, and even show directors.
Engineers Lead Ranking of Professions With Highest Salaries
At the top of the professions ranking, computer engineers stand out with an average of R$ 13,794 right at the start of their careers.
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Next are mining engineers, with R$ 13,055, and show directors and similar roles, who surprise with earnings of R$ 11,716 upon admission.
The list continues with chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, geologists, clinical doctors, production engineers, technology researchers, and electrical engineers.
The massive presence of engineering underscores the strategic role of these fields in the job market.
Complete Ranking of the Highest Paid Professions at Entry Level
Computer Engineers – R$ 13,794;
Mining Engineers and Similar Roles – R$ 13,055;
Show Directors and Similar Roles – R$ 11,716;
Chemical Engineers – R$ 11,181;
Mechanical Engineers – R$ 10,838;
Geologists, Oceanographers, and Geophysicists – R$ 10,642;
Clinical Doctors – R$ 10,071;
Production and Quality Engineers – R$ 9,960;
Engineering and Technology Researchers – R$ 9,708;
Electrical and Electronic Engineers – R$ 9,489.
Sectors and Regions With Highest Starting Salaries
The Firjan study also details how admission salaries vary by sector and region.
In Industry, the Oil and Natural Gas Extraction sector leads, with an average of R$ 9,104. In Services, the highest starting salary was recorded in Gambling and Betting Exploration, reaching R$ 9,301.
In Agriculture, the highest-paying division is Fishing and Aquaculture, with R$ 2,113, while in Commerce the highest value was in wholesale, at R$ 2,267.
Regionally, the highlights are:
São Paulo – R$ 2,473;
Federal District – R$ 2,284;
Rio de Janeiro – R$ 2,223 (the only state with a real decline in starting salaries, -0.4%).
What the Data Reveals About the Job Market
According to Firjan, admission salaries rose by an average of 2% in Brazil in 2024. The increase was recorded in 77% of occupations, reflecting an increasingly competitive market, where companies need to offer better conditions to attract and retain talent.
Another relevant piece of data is the rise in voluntary resignations, which reached 36%, the highest rate since the beginning of the historical series.
This indicates that many professionals are moving in search of better career and job opportunities.
Career and Opportunities: What to Expect for the Future
Experts highlight that Firjan’s ranking serves as a strategic guide for those looking to plan their professional trajectory.
Fields related to technology, engineering, and innovation remain in high demand, but there are also good opportunities in medicine, research, and even in the cultural sector.
For those starting their careers, the study is a warning: investing in education and seeking differentiators in the resume may be the way to secure the best positions.
For companies, the research reinforces the need to retain talent, especially in critical areas for economic growth.
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