16 highest-paying college majors, 5 years after graduation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Theater majors still employed in major between 35-45 are highest paid by far of all majors. I saw a chart once. Sure 90-95 percent of them are no longer working actors but the ones remaining are movie, TV and Broadway stars

Another person who doesn't understand what median income means.

The vast majority of actors are not paid the big bucks. Go ask the Screen Actors Guild.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/actors.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is five years after graduation. Further out it is the doctors who are making bank.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/highest-paying.htm

My husband with an MD who practiced a number of years left medicine for consulting and is making 7 figures now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You don't understand statistics, but then, you're an art major.

I'm work in statistics and I think PP does understand: you can't predict a single outcome from averages across such a broad category--especially one that does zero modeling of predictive factors and ignores important variabilities across institutions and important factors across time periods (e.g., what is the lifetime ROI). A better way to draw insight is that for any given person the profession that they are most likely to earn well in is the one where their skills and interests are the highest and that overlaps with an area that society is willing to pay. That is where an individual is likely to find their highest salary in an evolving career that will sustain over their lifetime. Much more sensible to introspect on that on some dumb averages about salary at 5 years that strips away all the predictive factors that will shape your individual outcome.

If you are really in stats, then you should understand what median income and this list means.

I know what it means, I'm just arguing it doesn't matter all that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You don't understand statistics, but then, you're an art major.

I'm work in statistics and I think PP does understand: you can't predict a single outcome from averages across such a broad category--especially one that does zero modeling of predictive factors and ignores important variabilities across institutions and important factors across time periods (e.g., what is the lifetime ROI). A better way to draw insight is that for any given person the profession that they are most likely to earn well in is the one where their skills and interests are the highest and that overlaps with an area that society is willing to pay. That is where an individual is likely to find their highest salary in an evolving career that will sustain over their lifetime. Much more sensible to introspect on that on some dumb averages about salary at 5 years that strips away all the predictive factors that will shape your individual outcome.

If you are really in stats, then you should understand what median income and this list means.

I know what it means, I'm just arguing it doesn't matter all that much.

That's ironic coming from a stats person.

[Anonymous]

So what would be a good career for someone who doesn’t like math or stem? Are they just destined for middle of the road jobs and barely scraping by ? My child doesn’t want to be at a desk, hates math, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Engineers are hot out of the gate. There’s a natural ceiling though unless they move into management
It would interesting to see a comparison of 35 year old individual contributor engineers vs Director level folks with those dreaded Liberal Arts or Marketing degrees

Chance of a person with an engineering degree moving into management vs a person with liberal arts/marketing.

Where do you want to bet your money?

We are talking statistics, not some random anecdotes.

Tech-related majors are very overrepresented in the C-suite at Fortune 500 companies, so I'd definitely put my money on the former.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what would be a good career for someone who doesn’t like math or stem? Are they just destined for middle of the road jobs and barely scraping by ? My child doesn’t want to be at a desk, hates math, etc.

marry well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You don't understand statistics, but then, you're an art major.

I'm work in statistics and I think PP does understand: you can't predict a single outcome from averages across such a broad category--especially one that does zero modeling of predictive factors and ignores important variabilities across institutions and important factors across time periods (e.g., what is the lifetime ROI). A better way to draw insight is that for any given person the profession that they are most likely to earn well in is the one where their skills and interests are the highest and that overlaps with an area that society is willing to pay. That is where an individual is likely to find their highest salary in an evolving career that will sustain over their lifetime. Much more sensible to introspect on that on some dumb averages about salary at 5 years that strips away all the predictive factors that will shape your individual outcome.

If you are really in stats, then you should understand what median income and this list means.

I know what it means, I'm just arguing it doesn't matter all that much.

That's ironic coming from a stats person.

I explained my reasoning.

[Anonymous]

It's so funny having this argument (again) that engineering is the best and only job. You know we are talking to the dude who has some lazy government contractor job and hates the liberal arts, right? He's hardly a paradigm of success himself, he just has such rigid thinking that he can't understand there are other things to do besides leech tax dollars while designing overpriced widgets that don't even work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You don't understand statistics, but then, you're an art major.

I'm work in statistics and I think PP does understand: you can't predict a single outcome from averages across such a broad category--especially one that does zero modeling of predictive factors and ignores important variabilities across institutions and important factors across time periods (e.g., what is the lifetime ROI). A better way to draw insight is that for any given person the profession that they are most likely to earn well in is the one where their skills and interests are the highest and that overlaps with an area that society is willing to pay. That is where an individual is likely to find their highest salary in an evolving career that will sustain over their lifetime. Much more sensible to introspect on that on some dumb averages about salary at 5 years that strips away all the predictive factors that will shape your individual outcome.

If you are really in stats, then you should understand what median income and this list means.

I know what it means, I'm just arguing it doesn't matter all that much.

That's ironic coming from a stats person.

I explained my reasoning.

Your reasoning was good. There's just that one guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what would be a good career for someone who doesn’t like math or stem? Are they just destined for middle of the road jobs and barely scraping by ? My child doesn’t want to be at a desk, hates math, etc.

My kid doesn’t mind math, but isn’t interested in CS, engineering or medicine. Going for business, most likely accounting. What about education for your child? Teachers aren’t really tied to their desk.

[Anonymous]

This is a joke right, asking what profession other majors can do aside from STEM/Engineering? There are thousands of professions and most of all a few proven ways to success:

Learn a skill that is valued
Solve a problem
Own an asset

Do you think the major of the owner of the nail salon down the road matters? Or the pest control company?

They require an understanding of good service, maybe the ability to hire well, use of the internet.

Aside from dedicated professions like accountancy for example, your major is not your only destiny!

[Anonymous]

The funny part is that with the internet especially, you can easily find someone to do the things you do not want to do.

Want to sell clothes online and your skill is photography? Hire a product development person and then a web person - even on a contract basis.

Literally anything is available, though it will cost and is not guaranteed to work.

[Anonymous]

Looks like the same list as when I graduated, 1981.