Top-Earning Majors in the US
September 30, 2019Last Updated on May 11, 2021
Do you know what you want to do for the rest of your life? If you’re like many students, your answer will change as you progress through your college years. Will your career pay well out of the gate, or will it take some time to reach financial success? Some top-earning majors on this list start out with high-earning salaries, while others, such as a business analysis, start out on the lower scale before eventually offering a higher salary as experience grows.
Sometimes your passion is profitable, but if it’s not, knowing what college major to pursue can be hard. This purpose of this blog isn’t to steer you toward a certain top-earning major, but rather to help you make an educated decision based on data. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what careers earn top-dollar in the US.
Highest Starting Salaries
If you’re looking to earn a high salary right out of college, engineering may be the major for you. U.S. News reported that according to PayScale data, these top-earning majors had the highest median starting salaries for workers with a bachelor’s degree:
- Electrical engineering. Median starting salary: $71,659
- Nuclear engineering. Median starting salary: $73,175
- Chemical engineering. Median starting salary: $73,627
- Computer engineering. Median starting salary: $74,026
- Petroleum engineering. Median starting salary: $96,544
PayScale’s Highest Paying Majors of 2019
Data from PayScale’s research confirms US News’s report on engineers’ earnings. Analyzing the overall top-earning majors and not just the highest starting salaries shows engineering jobs are still at the top of the list. The salaries below reflect the median salary for each group described.
- Aeronautics & Astronautics
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $73,100
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $131,600
- Pharmacy
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $79,600
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $132,500
- Business Analysis
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $57,200
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $133,200
- Electrical Power Engineering
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $72,400
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $134,700
- Actuarial Mathematics
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $63,300
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $135,100
- Political Economy
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $57,600
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $136,200
- Operations Research
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $77,900
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $137,100
- Applied Economics and Management
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $58,900
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $140,000
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS)
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $88,000
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $142,200
- Petroleum Engineering
Salary with 0-5 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $94,500
Salary with 5-10 years work experience + Bachelor’s degree: $176,900
You can see a full list of top-earning majors according to Payscale here.
Even if you’re not studying one of these top-earning majors, your degree will likely earn you more in the workforce. According to Forbes, the average college graduate will earn around $900,000 more than the average high school graduate throughout their lifetime. Over time, you’ll likely earn the money to pay back your student loans and earn financial independence. In the meantime, focus on your studies and know that in the end, it’ll all be worth it.
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