The 10 Highest Paying College Majors (and 10 Lowest) (2024)

No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least. But which specific majors result in the highest and lowest paydays? A recent New York Federal Reserve survey takes a look.

Regarding the broader jobs picture, over 272,000 jobs were added in May, according to the Kiplinger Jobs Outlook. That was a pickup from the 165,000 gain in April, but down from the 310,000 gain in the March report. The strongest growth was in health care, government, leisure and hospitality, and professional scientific and technical services. Temporary jobs dropped again in May, and have fallen in 24 out of the past 25 months.

Which career field fits you best?

If you are curious about analytical and technological concepts and enjoy math and science, then you might consider choosing a career in a STEM industry where you can earn some of the highest salaries after five years of graduating. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math.

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On the other hand, if you prefer to pursue a major in performing and liberal arts, theology or treatment therapy, you will likely earn some of the lowest salaries. That's according to the same New York Federal Reserve analysis.

Some jobs require little or no college education, while others require a four-year degree or more. Let's take a closer look at the ten highest and ten lowest-paying college majors to see what to expect upon graduation.

College majors that pay the most five years after graduation

Swipe to scroll horizontally

MajorMedian Wage Early CareerMedian Wage Mid Career
Chemical Engineering$79.000$133,000
Computer Engineering$80,000$125,000
Aerospace Engineering$74,000$120,000
Electrical Engineering$72,000$112,000
Mechanical Engineering$70,000$111,000
Computer Science$78,000$110,000
Finance$66,000$104,000
Industrial Engineering$71,000$100,000
General Engineering$68,000$100,000
Miscellaneous Engineering$68,000$100,000

College majors that pay the least five years after graduation

Swipe to scroll horizontally

MajorMedian Wage Early CareerMedian Wage Mid Career
Liberal arts$38,000$65,000
Performing arts$38,000$64,000
Theology and religion$38,000$56,000
Leisure and hospitality$39,700$67,000
General social sciences$40,000$70,000
History$40,000$70,000
Miscellaneous biological science$40,000$68,000
Fine arts$40,000$68,000
Treatment therapy$40,000$67,000
Nutrition sciences$40,000$65,000

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey-2022 data]

Annual wage and job growth

Annual wage growth bumped up to 4.1% in May, according to Kiplinger. That means that pay raises should end the year a bit higher than we previously expected at a 3.6% annual clip. Wages of nonsupervisory employees are growing a bit higher too, at 4.2%, and should end the year at about 3.7% growth.

With a number of U.S. job seekers considering a career change in 2024, it makes sense to find out which jobs give you the best chance to make the highest wages and show the most or least potential for growth. No matter your passion, or if you plan to pursue a college degree or not, there is a job out there for you. Here's a look at the 25 fastest growing jobs in the U.S.

Main features of the three highest-paying jobs

The three highest-paying jobs right now all fall in the engineering sector.

Chemical Engineering — Chemical engineers take the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering and use them to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products. You need a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field to enter the field, but some employerspreferexperience in an internship or a cooperative education program as well. The market from 2022 to 2032 is expected to grow by 8%, faster than many other fields.

Computer Engineering — The computer industry remains strong into 2024, with a projected growth of 5% from 2022 to 2032. Computer engineering is a fast-growing field that offers people good wages and a secure future. If you enjoy solving complex technical problems using creative solutions, a career in computer engineering might be a good fit. To get started, you'll need a bachelor's degree, but many employers also want experience, professional certifications or a graduate degree for senior engineers.

Aerospace Engineering — According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. With government and a host of private sector companies investing in space programs, people going into this field can expect to see substantial job growth over the next decade. In fact, it’s estimated that there are now more than 10,000 firms and around 5,000 investors involved in the space industry.

Related Content

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The 10 Highest Paying College Majors (and 10 Lowest) (2024)

FAQs

What are the highest and lowest paying majors? ›

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works. No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least.

What is the number #1 highest paying major? ›

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 rows
Mar 14, 2024

What major makes the most money out of college? ›

10 college majors that make the most money
  • Accounting.
  • Biomedical engineering.
  • Mathematics or Statistics.
  • Finance.
  • Nursing.
  • Information technology.
  • Engineering.
  • Computer science.
Jul 1, 2024

What are college majors in order from lowest to highest? ›

In order of level of education, they rank as associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's or graduate degrees, and doctorate or professional degrees.

Is $75000 a good salary out of college? ›

In general, yes. A $75k salary is more than what half of U.S. workers earn, and depending on where you live and your expenses, may be more than enough to live comfortably.

What is the easiest highest paying major? ›

Top 15 Quick Degrees That Pay Well
  1. Business Administration. A bachelor of business administration is one of the most popular undergraduate degrees. ...
  2. Communications. ...
  3. Criminal Justice. ...
  4. English. ...
  5. Finance. ...
  6. Healthcare Administration. ...
  7. History. ...
  8. Human Resources.

What is the #1 major in the US? ›

Business

Which major is best for money? ›

10 Highest Paying College Majors for 2024
  1. Business Administration. A business administration degree prepares you for management, consulting, and leadership roles. ...
  2. Computer Science. ...
  3. Psychology. ...
  4. Accounting. ...
  5. Finance. ...
  6. Nursing. ...
  7. Economics. ...
  8. Healthcare Administration.

What is the richest major? ›

Top 7 degrees that make the most millionaires
  • Engineering.
  • Economics/Finance.
  • Politics.
  • Mathematics.
  • Computer Science.
  • Law.
  • MBA.
Jul 14, 2024

What is the safest major? ›

If you want to make the most money possible right after college, study to be an engineer. As a major, it's the safest bet in terms of earning power.

Which 4 year degree pays the most? ›

What Are the Highest-Paying Bachelor's Degrees?
  1. Chemical Engineering. If you're interested in chemistry, chemical engineering could be the career for you. ...
  2. Computer Engineering. ...
  3. Aerospace Engineering. ...
  4. Electrical Engineering. ...
  5. Mechanical Engineering. ...
  6. Computer Science. ...
  7. Finance. ...
  8. Economics.
Jun 13, 2024

What is the most useful degree? ›

25 valuable majors for college students
  1. Biomedical engineering. ...
  2. Computer science. ...
  3. Marine engineering. ...
  4. Pharmaceutical sciences. ...
  5. Computer engineering. ...
  6. Electrical engineering. ...
  7. Finance. ...
  8. Software engineering.
Aug 15, 2024

What are the top 10 most difficult majors in college? ›

List of the Hardest College Majors
  1. Legal Studies. Average GPA: 3.35. ...
  2. Computer Science. Average GPA: 3.0. ...
  3. Environmental Earth Science. Average GPA: 2.96. ...
  4. Chemistry. Average GPA: 2.77. ...
  5. Environmental Economics and Policy. Average GPA: 2.95. ...
  6. American Studies. Average GPA: 3.12. ...
  7. Nuclear Engineering. Average GPA: 3.14. ...
  8. Energy Engineering.

What is the least regretted college major? ›

What are the college majors that are the least-regretted? The study, broken down, provided a stark contrast between majors and their projected earnings. For the students that followed degrees in engineering, science, technology, and math - all were expected to earn the most out of all other majors overall.

What is the lowest paying college 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.
Mar 24, 2024

What is the best and worst paying degree? ›

Diplomas in medicine and dentistry yielded the highest earnings per subject, with an average of £52,000 a year across all UK universities. At the other end of the scale, performing arts graduates took home the lowest salaries.

What major makes you the richest? ›

What to study to become a billionaire? You can study Engineering, Economics/Finance, Politics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Law, or MBA to enhance your financial strength, as these are some of the highest-paying degrees in the world.

What is the lowest paying career? ›

Below are some jobs that have the lowest pay and their annual salaries:
  1. Care worker. ...
  2. Shelf packer. ...
  3. Play worker. ...
  4. Nursery nurse. ...
  5. Teaching assistant. ...
  6. Cashier. ...
  7. Dental nurse. ...
  8. Cook.
Apr 18, 2024

What 4 year degree makes the most money? ›

List of Highest Paying Bachelor's Degrees
  • Business Administration. Early career salary: $51,489. ...
  • Computer Science. Early career salary: $74,000. ...
  • Accounting. Early career salary: $51,002. ...
  • Finance. Early career salary: $76,000. ...
  • Nursing. ...
  • Management Information Systems. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Software Engineering, Software Development.

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