The average starting salary for college graduates in Los Angeles is about $54,000 – 12 percent higher than entry-level salaries across the nation, according to a study released Tuesday by Century City executive search firm Korn Ferry.

The national study analyzed starting salaries of 25 different professions in multiple industries including technology, health care, public relations, and administrative support services. Korn Ferry calculated a national average of more than $48,000 – a 2 percent increase since last year.

Some of the professional positions analyzed include paralegals, nurses, event coordinators, e-commerce analysts, and engineers. In Los Angeles, engineers fared best with a base salary of nearly $70,000 while customer service representatives came in last with an entry-level salary of about $36,000. Human resources administrators came in close to the average of $54,000.

Korn Ferry Managing Consultant Peter Keseric, who handles West Coast recruiting for the financial services and real estate industries, said the hiring climate is very competitive in Los Angeles.

“While these salaries seem low, an engineer or worker with three or four years of experience in the field could find himself making much more than his starting salary,” Keseric said. “If students know what they want in college, and they target their major to it, their opportunities are infinitely better.”

Researchers in the study analyzed salaries of 145,000 entry-level positions across the United States.