16 highest-paying college majors, 5 years after graduation

[Anonymous]

If you’re looking for a college degree with maximum earning potential, you’ll want to be an engineer.

Engineering degrees took nine of the top 16 rankings for college majors with the highest income five years after graduation, according to a recent New York Federal Reserve study of full-time workers.

Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually.

The trend is expected to continue going forward too. STEM jobs — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031.

Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors:

1. Computer engineering $80,000
2. Chemical engineering $79,000
3. Computer science $78,000
4. Aerospace engineering $74,000
5. Electrical engineering $72,000
6. Industrial engineering $71,000
7. Mechanical engineering $70,000
8. General engineering $68,000
9. Miscellaneous engineering $68,000
10. Finance $66,000
11. Civil engineering $65,000
12. Economics $65,000
13. Business analytics $65,000
14. Mathematics $65,000
15. Construction services $64,000
16. Pharmacy $64,000

The technical knowledge, mathematical proficiency and problem-solving abilities required in engineering are valuable across many industries. As such, the profession tends to have higher salaries compared to other occupations.

Engineers also get top dollar when they gain more experience. When looking at “mid-career” graduates — those ages 35 to 45 who are working full-time — engineering majors tend to make six figures.

Here’s a look at the rankings for mid-career graduates:

1. Chemical engineering $133K
2. Computer engineering $125K
3. Aerospace engineering $120K
4. Electrical engineering $112K
5. Mechanical engineering $111K
6. Computer science $110K
7. Finance $104K
8. Industrial engineering $100K
9. General engineering $100K
10. Miscellaneous engineering $100K
11. Civil engineering $100K
12. Economics $100K
13. Business analytics $100K
14. Construction services $100K
15. Physics $95K
16. Engineering technologies $95K

[Anonymous]

Can you share the link to the study. I’m pretty surprised accounting and actuaries aren’t there.

[Anonymous]

One weakness here is that these totals don’t adjust for gender, college type, family leave or SATs.

If you look only at childless people who went to R1 research universities and started with math SATs in the 700 to 750 range, a lot of the earnings gap might going away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for a college degree with maximum earning potential, you’ll want to be an engineer.

Engineering degrees took nine of the top 16 rankings for college majors with the highest income five years after graduation, according to a recent New York Federal Reserve study of full-time workers.

Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually.

The trend is expected to continue going forward too. STEM jobs — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031.

Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors:

1. Computer engineering $80,000
2. Chemical engineering $79,000
3. Computer science $78,000
4. Aerospace engineering $74,000
5. Electrical engineering $72,000
6. Industrial engineering $71,000
7. Mechanical engineering $70,000
8. General engineering $68,000
9. Miscellaneous engineering $68,000
10. Finance $66,000
11. Civil engineering $65,000
12. Economics $65,000
13. Business analytics $65,000
14. Mathematics $65,000
15. Construction services $64,000
16. Pharmacy $64,000

The technical knowledge, mathematical proficiency and problem-solving abilities required in engineering are valuable across many industries. As such, the profession tends to have higher salaries compared to other occupations.

Engineers also get top dollar when they gain more experience. When looking at “mid-career” graduates — those ages 35 to 45 who are working full-time — engineering majors tend to make six figures.

Here’s a look at the rankings for mid-career graduates:

1. Chemical engineering $133K
2. Computer engineering $125K
3. Aerospace engineering $120K
4. Electrical engineering $112K
5. Mechanical engineering $111K
6. Computer science $110K
7. Finance $104K
8. Industrial engineering $100K
9. General engineering $100K
10. Miscellaneous engineering $100K
11. Civil engineering $100K
12. Economics $100K
13. Business analytics $100K
14. Construction services $100K
15. Physics $95K
16. Engineering technologies $95K

It's funny. I know narrative game designers with creative writing degrees making more than this five years in. Actually all of these salaries seem low with respect to the rigour involved. Not to mention, the specialization required that leaves you unqualified to do much else.

[Anonymous]

Sounds depressing. I was an art major and made $80k right after graduation. That was in 2002s dollars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for a college degree with maximum earning potential, you’ll want to be an engineer.

Engineering degrees took nine of the top 16 rankings for college majors with the highest income five years after graduation, according to a recent New York Federal Reserve study of full-time workers.

Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually.

The trend is expected to continue going forward too. STEM jobs — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031.

Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors:

1. Computer engineering $80,000
2. Chemical engineering $79,000
3. Computer science $78,000
4. Aerospace engineering $74,000
5. Electrical engineering $72,000
6. Industrial engineering $71,000
7. Mechanical engineering $70,000
8. General engineering $68,000
9. Miscellaneous engineering $68,000
10. Finance $66,000
11. Civil engineering $65,000
12. Economics $65,000
13. Business analytics $65,000
14. Mathematics $65,000
15. Construction services $64,000
16. Pharmacy $64,000

The technical knowledge, mathematical proficiency and problem-solving abilities required in engineering are valuable across many industries. As such, the profession tends to have higher salaries compared to other occupations.

Engineers also get top dollar when they gain more experience. When looking at “mid-career” graduates — those ages 35 to 45 who are working full-time — engineering majors tend to make six figures.

Here’s a look at the rankings for mid-career graduates:

1. Chemical engineering $133K
2. Computer engineering $125K
3. Aerospace engineering $120K
4. Electrical engineering $112K
5. Mechanical engineering $111K
6. Computer science $110K
7. Finance $104K
8. Industrial engineering $100K
9. General engineering $100K
10. Miscellaneous engineering $100K
11. Civil engineering $100K
12. Economics $100K
13. Business analytics $100K
14. Construction services $100K
15. Physics $95K
16. Engineering technologies $95K

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/14/highest-paying-college-majors-5-years-after-graduation.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for a college degree with maximum earning potential, you’ll want to be an engineer.

Engineering degrees took nine of the top 16 rankings for college majors with the highest income five years after graduation, according to a recent New York Federal Reserve study of full-time workers.

Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually.

The trend is expected to continue going forward too. STEM jobs — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031.

Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors:

1. Computer engineering $80,000
2. Chemical engineering $79,000
3. Computer science $78,000
4. Aerospace engineering $74,000
5. Electrical engineering $72,000
6. Industrial engineering $71,000
7. Mechanical engineering $70,000
8. General engineering $68,000
9. Miscellaneous engineering $68,000
10. Finance $66,000
11. Civil engineering $65,000
12. Economics $65,000
13. Business analytics $65,000
14. Mathematics $65,000
15. Construction services $64,000
16. Pharmacy $64,000

The technical knowledge, mathematical proficiency and problem-solving abilities required in engineering are valuable across many industries. As such, the profession tends to have higher salaries compared to other occupations.

Engineers also get top dollar when they gain more experience. When looking at “mid-career” graduates — those ages 35 to 45 who are working full-time — engineering majors tend to make six figures.

Here’s a look at the rankings for mid-career graduates:

1. Chemical engineering $133K
2. Computer engineering $125K
3. Aerospace engineering $120K
4. Electrical engineering $112K
5. Mechanical engineering $111K
6. Computer science $110K
7. Finance $104K
8. Industrial engineering $100K
9. General engineering $100K
10. Miscellaneous engineering $100K
11. Civil engineering $100K
12. Economics $100K
13. Business analytics $100K
14. Construction services $100K
15. Physics $95K
16. Engineering technologies $95K

I'd venture to say that 75% of students are NOT majoring in the majors listed.

I guess they're screwed.

/s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you share the link to the study. I’m pretty surprised accounting and actuaries aren’t there.

Would those fall under finance and economics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds depressing. I was an art major and made $80k right after graduation. That was in 2002s dollars

You don't mean anything here
We are taking statistics

[Anonymous]

Start high. Plateau early.

Many much more lucrative fields

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start high. Plateau early.

Many much more lucrative fields

This. I’m ChE. High out of school maxed early @165k

[Anonymous]

The numbers look low, because they look at each job across all populations. Engineering is a great major for students at any school. Even the engineers from the mediocre schools are doing fairly well.

For many other jobs - finance, writers, sales, the median is probably lower since many are making peanuts. Those from the best schools are still doing well, but the overall profession salaries are brought down.

[Anonymous]

Dentist if he does not take HMO'S.

[Anonymous]

These salaries look awfully low. My mid-career CS staffers are well beyond these numbers. Average 200K with bonus. We pay the new grads 100K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Start high. Plateau early.

Many much more lucrative fields

This. I’m ChE. High out of school maxed early @165k

I’m a biology major. Master’s degree. Making $180k at 55.

My husband was an Econ major that went into software. No graduate degree (just a BA) and was making $350k 5 years after undergrad. $450 now.