Accepting & Declining offers for employment

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Accepting or Declining an Offer of Employment

Accepting an Offer

The hardest part of the job search might be over but you still need to make an important decision - so take some time to give it serious thought.  Don't accept a job offer on the spot!  Make sure you weigh your choices carefully and ensure that you are making the best possible choice for your career goals.  If you have other offers pending that are higher on your priority list, contact those employers to let them know about your new offer and ask when they are planning to make their decision.

If an employer makes you an offer in August or September for a summer internship or full time position, you may ask to have until the end of October to make your decision.  If you receive an offer after September, you may ask to have 2-3 weeks to communicate your decision to the employer. You can reference the Employer Policies outlined on our website when asking for more time.

Remember, once you accept an offer, you are obligated to that position even if you get a better offer later.  As always, you are more than welcome to stop by Engineering Career Services to talk through your options!

Check out how to prepare for your first job.

Declining an Offer

If you choose to decline a job offer, do so tactfully and in writing.  If you have developed a rapport/relationship with a recruiter, offer them the courtesy of a phone call. Keep in mind these tips when declining a job offer:  

  • Avoid saying anything negative in writing about the employer, even if you had a negative experience.

  • If you choose to decline an offer because another offer is a better fit for your interests and goals, it is fine to state this, without giving details about why the declined offer is not the best fit. 

  • It is not necessary to state whose offer you accepted, but you may do so if you wish. Remember that this employer may be a contact for you in the future.  Be professional and courteous.

Consequences of Reneging 

When you accept an offer, you are obligated to that position even if you get a better offer later.  Do not accept an offer unless and until you are sure of your commitment.  Once you accept a position, you should withdraw yourself from other positions you are being considered for, and stop submitting new applications.

If you decide to renege on your commitment to accept a different offer, there will be consequences.  Reneging damages not just your professional reputation, but that of the Clark School of Engineering.  Your actions can jeopardize opportunities for other Clark School students.  Your Handshake account will be blocked, and you will be barred from participating in campus recruiting activities until you meet with an Engineering Career Services advisor.  You will be required to compose a sincere letter of apology, explaining your actions, which we will review and submit to the recruiter. 

This policy deals with you reneging on your commitment to a company.  If a company/organization rescinds its offer of employment to you, please notify the Engineering Career Services office immediately.

Resignation

If you've been at your place of employment for a while and are looking for resources on how to resign from your role, please see our guide on how to write a resignation letter.

Salaries for UMD Engineering

What is a fair salary? How should you approach salary negotiation? Below, are the average salaries for engineering students, by major and degree level. Download the Evaluating Salary and Job Offers Handout (PDF) for advice and resources. You can also check Jobted for average salary information. All salaries posted are in USD.

Click on each major below to see a list of employers who have hired UMD grads in past years.

Engineering Co-op/Intern Hourly Wages for 2024-2025

The co-op/intern wages were calculated using the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 wages reported by students.

Engineering Major Mean Hourly Salary

Aerospace (0 responses)

N/A

Bioengineering (0 responses)

N/A

Chemical  (0 responses)

N/A

Civil & Environmental  (1 response)

19.00
Cloud Engineering   (2 responses) 36.70

Cybersecurity (19 responses)

42.42

Electrical & Computer (2 responses)

63.79
Embedded Systems (1 response) 23.00
Energy Systems (1 response)

30.00

Fire Protection (3 responses)

27.00

Materials Science  (0 responses)

N/A

Mechanical (1 response)

20.00
Product Management (1 response)

36.00

Project Management (2 responses)

23.00

Reliability (1 response)

39.00

Robotics (19 responses)

30.66

Software (25 responses)

29.40

Systems  (0 responses)

N/A

Telecommunications (4 responses)

40.26

Engineering Post-Graduation Salaries for 2024-2025

The entry-level salaries were calculated using the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 salaries reported by students.  Please note that due to a low number of responses from Master's and PhD level students, we've also included the national averages as reported by the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Summer 2025 Salary Survey, which is actually compiled of 2024 graduates' salaries.

Engineering Major UMD Average Annual Salary National Average

Aerospace (13 responses)

108,230

99,611

Bioengineering (3 responses)

100,000

 75,567
(Biomedical)

Chemical (2 responses)

110,000

90,629

Civil & Environmental (6 responses)

92,833

81,586

Cybersecurity * (17 responses)

116,647

N/A

Electrical & Computer (5 responses)

135,800

 101,027
Energy Systems * (3 responses)

108,000

N/A

Fire Protection (7 responses)

105,143

N/A

Materials Science (0 responses)

N/A

87,040

Mechanical (11 responses)

96,182

93,299

Product Management * (16 responses)

123,188

N/A

Project Management * (8 responses)

101,125

N/A

Reliability (1 response)

105,000

N/A

Robotics * (15 responses)

89,187

 112,309
(Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation)

Software (8 responses)

125,625

 83,064
(Computer Software and Media Applications)

Systems (1 response)

110,000

104,234

Technology Entrepreneurship * (0 responses)

 N/A

N/A

Telecommunications (3 responses)

106,667

 139,351
(Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications)

*The majority of Professional Masters Programs salaries reflect individuals who already have full-time industry experience.

Websites for Additional Salary Information

  • Salary.com—provides reports and calculators by profession and location.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics—Wage Data by Area and Occupation
  • Glassdoor—includes user-reported information on salaries, interviews, and company reviews. Create a free account with your .edu email address. Note that negotiation information is included under Interviews, not Salaries. If you're new to Glassdoor, you can watch a brief video tutorial about Getting the Most Out of Glassdoor.

USA Career Guides are helpful resources for industry and cost of living data for U.S. and international cities. GoinGlobal is another helpful tool available through the Handshake Resource Library.

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