Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of STEM degrees that pay like crap or are mediocre. Pretty much everything that isn't CS.
Lots of Chem/Engineering/Physics majors making under 100k even several years out of college. Very hard to break into a 200-300k income in those fields.
It's a given that a BA/BS in Chemistry alone will not propel you quickly to 100K+. You need a PHD to really do research/meaningful work in that field. A BA/BS will let you be a grunt worker in someones lab. But that is not a hidden fact. It's well known if you choose that path. However you can combine your chemistry with other majors/minors and have more choices (minor in CS/data science/business).
physics is similar---if you really want to "do physics" you need a PHD, but you can do a lot of other jobs (think Mech E type, math/analytical) if you want that path. But Physics research with only a BA/BS isn't going to get you a high paying job. But then again, if you want to go that route, you easily know you need an advanced degree to do the "meaningful" work.
However, I"d argue, most engineering jobs will put you in the 100K+ within 3-5 year, even in MCOL areas. And the path to 300K+ jobs is switching from purely technical path to management. But you will get to $150/200K if in a M/HCOL area after 5-10 years.
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}