AVERAGE starting salaries for graduates are expected to reach £20,000 this year, a survey has shown.

And they should have more job opportunities compared with 2002 as vacancies are expected to rise by 7.9 per cent, said the Association of Graduate Recruiters.

The highest projected starting salaries are in investment banking and fund management at £35,000, followed by management consulting and business services at £28,500. The lowest average starting salaries are expected to be in transport and logistics (£16,000) and the media (£17,500).

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2003 was based on responses from 222 member firms.