- The best college majors for finding the highest-paying jobs after graduation tend to be in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Engineering, in particular, is one of the highest-paying college majors after graduation.
- 50 college majors have an early career salary of at least $60,000, and many have a mid-career pay over $100,000.
It’s the time of the year when high school seniors are deciding where to attend college and university students are preparing for their own graduation.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the most important questions facing young people: Which college major to choose?
How much money you earn after graduation depends a lot on your major. While future salary should not be the only criteria when selecting a major, it can be an important one for college students to consider.
PayScale’s College Salary Report breaks down how much graduates of every degree type get paid. The report used data from nonprofit and public schools and measured profiles of 2.3 million college graduates with full-time jobs in the US. PayScale’s report included 489 bachelor’s majors of college degrees. Salary figures are from June 2017.
These numbers only reflect students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in each field. Associate's, master's, and other degrees are not considered.
The lucrative STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have plenty of representation on the list of highest-paying jobs after graduation. Engineering, in particular, is a college major that leads to strong future earning potential. All but two of the 20 highest-paying college degrees are some kind of study in engineering. Science, technology, and math majors are also present.
The 50 best college majors for the highest-paying jobs are listed in order of median salary early in their career, what PayScale considers zero to five years. The median pay at least 10 years after graduation, considered mid-career pay, is also included below.
50. Statistics
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,600
49. Economics and mathematics
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $122,900
48. Operations management & information systems
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,100
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,500
47. Information security
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $90,900
46. Engineering physics
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $112,600
45. Electrical engineering technology
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $93,400
44. Accounting & computer systems
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,900
43. Informatics
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,500
Median pay after 10+ years: $95,300
42. Construction engineering management
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,500
Median pay after 10+ years: $103,700
41. Construction science
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,700
Median pay after 10+ years: $102,600
40. Structural engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $60,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $105,100
39. Construction engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,100
Median pay after 10+ years: $93,700
38. Architectural engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,200
Median pay after 10+ years: $95,100
37. Actuarial science
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,200
Median pay after 10+ years: $130,800
36. Packaging science
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $102,300
35. Engineering management
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,500
Median pay after 10+ years: $101,600
34. Plastics engineering technology
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,600
Median pay after 10+ years: $95,100
33. Bioengineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,600
Median pay after 10+ years: $116,800
32. Radiation therapy
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $84,200
31. Manufacturing engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $61,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $96,400
30. Mechanical
Median pay after 0-5 years: $62,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $101,600
29. Computer science & mathematics
Median pay after 0-5 years: $62,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $114,400
28. Mechanical & aeronautical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $62,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $113,200
27. Biomedical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $62,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $103,500
26. Engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $63,100
Median pay after 10+ years: $111,600
25. Electronics engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $63,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,300
24. Mechanical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $64,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $106,800
23. Plastics engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $64,100
Median pay after 10+ years: $97,100
22. Industrial engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $64,400
Median pay after 10+ years: $107,100
21. Aeronautical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $65,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $118,800
20. Industrial & systems engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $65,700
Median pay after 10+ years: $114,400
19. Computer science
Median pay after 0-5 years: $65,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $110,100
18. Electrical & electronics engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $66,200
Median pay after 10+ years: $107,400
17. Software engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $66,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,300
16. Materials science & engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $66,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $104,100
15. Aerospace engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $66,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $113,300
14. Electrical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $67,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $114,800
13. Naval architecture & marine engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $68,200
Median pay after 10+ years: $113,800
12. Electrical power engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $68,600
Median pay after 10+ years: $119,100
11. Nuclear engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $69,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $127,500
10. Electrical & computer engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $69,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $118,800
9. Computer engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $70,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $116,000
8. Chemical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $70,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $124,500
7. Computer science & engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $70,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $116,800
6. Mining engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $71,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $108.500
5. Computer systems engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $72,000
Median pay after 10+ years: $118,000
4. Marine engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $73,900
Median pay after 10+ years: $123,200
3. Metallurgical engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $75,300
Median pay after 10+ years: $105,100
2. Physician assistant studies
Median pay after 0-5 years: $87,800
Median pay after 10+ years: $107,600
1. Petroleum engineering
Median pay after 0-5 years: $94,600
Median pay after 10+ years: $175,500