SCDC for Employers

Co-op Weekly Salary Guide

Click below to find out important industry information such as possible jobs/salaries, key resources available and past companies that have hired Drexel Students.

Drexel Co-op is a competitive process. While the vast majority of co-op positions are paid, some students enter into upaid co-op arrangements based on the quality of the work experience and/or its ability to best fit the student's interests. In some circumstances, co-ops may be unpaid because of industry standards. For example, co-op positions in the fields of research and the creative arts are typically unpaid. An asterisk (*) on the chart below indicates that co-op positions in that major are generally unpaid. A double asterisk (**) on the chart below indicates that that there is no salary data for that major.

The salary information in the tables below reflects combined data from students in the four-year and five-year co-op programs. These salaries are based on paid co-op assignments from the 2011-12 academic year. The three categories represent the 20th percentile, the median, and the 80th percentile. Although salaries do fluctuate with current market conditions, the figures below provide a general idea of what students in the majors below are paid.  

Recently, more students have chosen to complete a co-op abroad, which allows students to gain an international perspective of their field. International co-ops, when paid, are usually not competitive with U.S. salary rates. To assist students with expenses, the Steinbright Career Development Center offers many stipends and scholarships for students participating in the co-op abroad program.  For more information, please visit: http://www.drexel.edu/scdc/internationalcoop/ 

Lastly, students should keep in mind that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and related state and local statutes may govern the relationship between students and employers. We encourage students and employees to review the FLSA and determine whether its minimum-wage, overtime, and other provisions are relevant to the circumstances of their co-ops.

*The averages below are based on weekly co-op salaries.