The top engineering discipline, and second on the salary list, is chemical engineering with an average starting salary of £29,582. Others in the top ten include general engineering on £26,362, mechanical engineering on £26,076, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering on £25,343, electrical and electronic engineering on £24,639 and civil engineering on £24,524.

The best-paying degree is dentistry with an average starting salary of £30,395, while bottom of the list is creative writing on £16,903. Law comes 47th out of the 66 courses listed, with a starting salary of £19,598. The average starting salary for all disciplines in the list is £21,982.

Commenting on the figures, IET chief executive Nigel Fine says: “It’s very encouraging to see that graduates beginning their engineering careers are starting on such good salaries. There has never been a better time to be an engineer. Demand that far outstrips supply, competitive graduate salaries, and fantastic career prospects, are typical characteristics of the engineering profession today.”