FAQs
College majors that pay the most five years after graduation
| Major | Median Wage Early Career | Median Wage Mid Career |
|---|
| Computer Engineering | $80,000 | $125,000 |
| Aerospace Engineering | $74,000 | $120,000 |
| Electrical Engineering | $72,000 | $112,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,000 | $111,000 |
6 more rowsMay 3, 2024
Engineering majors tend to have the highest earnings according to the BLS, with a median annual wage of $93,000 per year . This can be a useful career option for people who enjoy solving complex problems. Mathematics is another high-paying major, and graduates can earn a median annual wage of $75,000 per year .
What 6 year degree pays the most? ›
What Are the Highest-Paying Bachelor's Degrees?
- Aerospace Engineering. ...
- Electrical Engineering. ...
- Mechanical Engineering. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Finance. ...
- Economics. ...
- Civil Engineers. ...
- Business Analytics. For students interested in business, finance, data, statistics, and mathematics, a business analytics major is a great choice.
Top 20 College majors with the highest salaries
- Chemical Engineering. Engineering degrees are a common theme on this list. ...
- Computer Engineering. ...
- Aerospace Engineering. ...
- Electrical Engineering. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Mechanical Engineering. ...
- Civil Engineering. ...
- Industrial Engineering.
College majors that pay the most for mid-career workers
| 1. | Chemical engineering | $133K |
|---|
| 2. | Computer engineering | $125K |
| 3. | Aerospace engineering | $120K |
| 4. | Electrical engineering | $112K |
| 5. | Mechanical engineering | $111K |
11 more rowsMar 14, 2024
Best jobs with a bachelor's degree that pay over $100,000 per year
- Sales executive. ...
- Compensation manager. ...
- Economist. ...
- Actuary. ...
- Risk manager. ...
- Strategy manager. ...
- Chief financial officer. ...
- Loan officer.
As you start your job search, consider these six-figure jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree:
- Financial manager. ...
- Development director. ...
- Aeronautical engineer. ...
- Sales engineer. ...
- Software engineer. ...
- Architect. ...
- Actuary. ...
- Chief executive officer (CEO)
Some of the best career options after 12th with high salary include:
- Medicine/MBBS.
- Computer Science Engineering.
- Research.
- MBA.
- Data Science.
- Business Analytics.
- Chartered Accountancy.
- Investment Banking.
A recent study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that engineering and computer science majors provide the highest returns in lifetime earnings, followed by business, health, and math and science majors.
What degree is the richest? ›
Top 7 degrees that make the most millionaires
- Engineering.
- Economics/Finance.
- Politics.
- Mathematics.
- Computer Science.
- Law.
- MBA.
10 college majors that make the most money
- Business.
- Economics.
- Accounting.
- Biomedical engineering.
- Mathematics or Statistics.
- Finance.
- Nursing.
- Information technology.
1. Computer Science. First among the highest-paying majors in 2024 is Computer Science. Computer Science graduates can thank the tech sector's rapid growth that continues to create job opportunities for skilled professionals.
What is the most useful degree? ›
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.
What major makes a lot of money? ›
Computer engineering majors topped the list of highest earners right after college, making a median annual wage of $80,000, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. According to 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer engineers (hardware) earned a median salary of $132,360.
What is the lowest paying major? ›
College majors that pay the least for mid-career workers
- Early Childhood Education $48,000.
- General Education $52,000.
- Elementary Education $52,000.
- Secondary Education $55,000.
- Miscellaneous Education $56,000.
- Social Services $56,000.
- Theology + Religion $56,000.
- Special Education $57,000.
College majors with the highest and lowest return
A recent study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that engineering and computer science majors provide the highest returns in lifetime earnings, followed by business, health, and math and science majors.
What degree has the highest graduate salary? ›
The highest-paying degree you can get – according to our graduate data – is one in Dentistry. It's a specialised and vocational subject area, where most graduates find professional work in a dental-related role soon after completing their studies.
What graduate degree makes the most money? ›
The top 8 highest-paying master's degrees
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science in Nursing.
- Master of Science in Engineering Management.
- Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering.
- Master of Science in Finance.
- Master of Arts in Political Science.
- Master of Science in Computer Science.
While wages vary based on the industry and a candidate's experience, holding a bachelor's degree can lead, in some cases, to a six-figure salary.
