Which college major makes the most money?
Degrees with six-figure salaries
STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) dominated the 20 degrees that led to the highest salaries upon entering the workforce, Bankrate found.
1. | Computer engineering | $80K |
---|---|---|
2. | Chemical engineering | $79K |
3. | Computer science | $78K |
4. | Aerospace engineering | $74K |
5. | Electrical engineering | $72K |
- Computer science. $108,500.
- Mechanical engineering. $106,200.
- Economics. $101,400.
- Engineering. $100,600.
- Finance. $99,900.
- Civil engineering. $99,660.
- Chemistry. $94,680.
- Mathematics. $86,560.
- Engineering: $111,600.
- Computers, Mathematics, and Statistics: $100,000.
- Physical and Related Sciences: $85,700.
- Business: $80,100.
- Social Sciences: $79,300.
- Agriculture, food and related studies.
- Allied health.
- Architecture, building and planning.
- Biosciences.
- Business and management.
- Celtic studies.
- Chemistry.
- Combined and general studies.
Degrees with six-figure salaries
STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) dominated the 20 degrees that led to the highest salaries upon entering the workforce, Bankrate found.
In contrast, students who major in liberal arts, performing arts and theology earn the lowest salaries within five years of graduating from college, according to the study of full-time workers. Graduates of all three majors earned a median annual income of $38,000, the lowest out of the 75 majors in the study.
- Engineering. Engineering professionals use principles of physics and mathematics to design buildings, vehicles, electronics, and other structures. ...
- Business. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Education. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Jobs that pay $100K a year typically require a bachelor's degree or higher. For example, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), physicians, surgeons, chief executives, lawyers, pharmacists, and dentists in the U.S. all earn more than $100,000 per year, on average.
- Business Management. Number of projected job openings: 371,500. ...
- Education. Number of projected job openings: 236,600. ...
- Nursing. Number of projected job openings: 194,500. ...
- Software Development. ...
- Computer Science & Information Technology. ...
- Accounting. ...
- Finance. ...
- Marketing.
Which field pays the most?
- Chief Executive officer.
- Anesthesiologist.
- General and Orthopedic Surgeons.
- Psychiatrists.
- Data Scientists.
- Software Engineers.
- Investment Banker.
- Petroleum Engineers.
- Police officer. ...
- Nuclear power reactor operator. ...
- Boilermaker. ...
- Web developer. ...
- Front desk manager. ...
- Distribution manager. ...
- Massage therapist. ...
- Tanker driver.
- Financial manager. National average salary: $100,178 per year Primary duties: Financial managers help improve a company's financial health. ...
- Development director. ...
- Aeronautical engineer. ...
- Sales engineer. ...
- Software engineer. ...
- Architect. ...
- Actuary. ...
- Chief executive officer (CEO)
Easier trades, such as plumbing and electrical work, offer job security due to the high demand for skilled workers in these fields. This means that there are always jobs available and wages can be competitive.
The best degree for a career depends largely on individual interests, industry demand, and career goals. Fields like Computer Science, Healthcare, Engineering, and Business Management often top the list due to their high demand in the job market, strong salary potential, and broad applicability across industries.
Career | Median Annual Salary | Degree |
---|---|---|
Police and Detectives | $66,020 | Criminal Justice |
Technical Writers | $78,060 | English |
Financial Managers | $131,710 | Finance |
Health Services Managers | $101,340 | Healthcare Administration |
- Human Resources. ...
- English. ...
- Marketing. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Supply Chain Management. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Communication. ...
- Photography/Fine Arts. Good photographers seem to always be in demand, especially when a special event is coming up.
Perhaps a surprising degree on this list, engineering consistently ranks among the happiest degrees — primarily for the job security and high salary awaiting students after graduation. There are all sorts of engineering disciplines for students to explore to find a field that they feel passionate about and capable in.
- Business Administration.
- Communication.
- Business Management.
- Psychology.
- Sociology.
- Biology.
- Economics.
- Political Science.
- Account Manager (SOFTRAX, A TELUS Company) TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods. ...
- 100% Virtual Life Insurance Sales. ...
- VP of Marketing. ...
- Sales Executive. ...
- Sr Staff Data Scientist. ...
- What are your desired job types? ...
- Senior Data Scientist, Operations Research. ...
- 100% Virtual Life Insurance Sales.
What blue collar jobs make 100K a year?
- Elevator installer and repairer. ...
- Power plant operator, distributor and dispatcher. ...
- Powerhouse, substation and relay repairer. ...
- Locomotive engineer. ...
- Electrical line installer and repairer. ...
- Gas plant operator. ...
- Boilermaker. ...
- Radio and telecommunications equipment installer.
- Information systems manager. ...
- Fire chief. ...
- Product manager. ...
- Senior engagement manager. ...
- Radiation therapist. ...
- Computer network architect. ...
- Senior real estate manager. ...
- Technical program manager.
- Business. Interested in an easy major with many career options? ...
- Communications. As a communications major, you'll study mass media, public relations, and journalism. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Education. ...
- English. ...
- General Studies. ...
- Health Science. ...
- Liberal Arts.
- Pilot. ...
- Actuary. ...
- Computer network architect. ...
- Air traffic controller. ...
- Petroleum engineer. ...
- Lawyer. ...
- Physicist. ...
- Computer and information systems manager.
- IT Systems Manager. ...
- Data Engineer. ...
- Software Architect. ...
- Cloud Architect. ...
- DevOps Engineer. ...
- Investment Banker. ...
- Chartered Accountant. ...
- Medical Professionals (Doctors and Surgeons) Healthcare offers one of the highest salary jobs in India.