The decision to attend college is not always an easy one. While it could be an incredibly rewarding experience that introduces students to lifelong friends and provides them with education, it can also be incredibly expensive. However, attending college can open the doors to higher-paying careers, though future earnings may depend on the major taken. (Here are the most expensive colleges in every state.)
To determine the highest paying college majors, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on earnings from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample files. Undergraduate college majors were ranked based on the average reported incomes of degree holders in 2021.
Settling on a college major can be a daunting challenge and a stressful process. Several factors may contribute to the decision, including interests, passions, and probably future career options. One factor in the decision may be future earnings potential. Certain majors can set up graduates to have access to higher-paying jobs and being quite well off financially. (These are where America’s 25 richest billionaires went to college.)
Among the 25 highest-paying majors there are a few trends. Engineering, be it mechanical, chemical, electrical, or otherwise, can be quite a lucrative major when translated into a career. As can sciences majors, especially ones that can be relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and computing. (This is the strangest job in every state.)
Click here to see the highest paying college majors.
Click here to see our detailed methodology,
25. Physics
> Avg. annual earnings: $88,966
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 66.2%
> Unemployment rate: 2.9%
> No. degree holders: 445,906
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24. Physiology
> Avg. annual earnings: $89,480
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 60.8%
> Unemployment rate: 3.1%
> No. degree holders: 170,836
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23. Construction services
> Avg. annual earnings: $89,620
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 11.1%
> Unemployment rate: 2.7%
> No. degree holders: 156,318
22. Business economics
> Avg. annual earnings: $90,830
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 31.7%
> Unemployment rate: 4.7%
> No. degree holders: 136,590
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21. Mechanical engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $90,938
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 37.6%
> Unemployment rate: 3.0%
> No. degree holders: 1,337,625
20. Engineering mechanics physics and science
> Avg. annual earnings: $90,966
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 53.4%
> Unemployment rate: 2.6%
> No. degree holders: 48,647
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19. Aerospace engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $91,063
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 49.4%
> Unemployment rate: 2.6%
> No. degree holders: 178,723
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18. Management information systems and statistics
> Avg. annual earnings: $92,920
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 24.4%
> Unemployment rate: 3.8%
> No. degree holders: 324,791
17. Applied mathematics
> Avg. annual earnings: $93,950
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 48.7%
> Unemployment rate: 6.2%
> No. degree holders: 69,406
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16. Chemical engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $94,868
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 46.0%
> Unemployment rate: 3.1%
> No. degree holders: 496,095
15. Materials science
> Avg. annual earnings: $96,246
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 62.6%
> Unemployment rate: 3.1%
> No. degree holders: 42,260
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14. Nuclear engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $96,560
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 58.6%
> Unemployment rate: 1.3%
> No. degree holders: 25,684
13. Electrical engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $99,708
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 46.1%
> Unemployment rate: 3.0%
> No. degree holders: 1,528,411
12. Biomedical engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $99,782
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 49.8%
> Unemployment rate: 3.2%
> No. degree holders: 111,618
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11. Computer science
> Avg. annual earnings: $100,075
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 30.8%
> Unemployment rate: 3.8%
> No. degree holders: 1,863,240
10. Economics
> Avg. annual earnings: $101,421
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 43.0%
> Unemployment rate: 4.2%
> No. degree holders: 1,677,144
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9. Finance
> Avg. annual earnings: $102,169
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 29.6%
> Unemployment rate: 3.2%
> No. degree holders: 1,682,131
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8. Biochemical sciences
> Avg. annual earnings: $102,789
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 61.6%
> Unemployment rate: 2.6%
> No. degree holders: 342,809
7. Petroleum engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $104,727
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 24.3%
> Unemployment rate: 7.7%
> No. degree holders: 37,704
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6. Genetics
> Avg. annual earnings: $104,920
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 64.5%
> Unemployment rate: 2.9%
> No. degree holders: 28,844
5. Actuarial science
> Avg. annual earnings: $105,464
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 25.5%
> Unemployment rate: 1.7%
> No. degree holders: 28,763
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4. Health and medical preparatory programs
> Avg. annual earnings: $106,243
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 75.0%
> Unemployment rate: 2.4%
> No. degree holders: 160,889
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3. Computer engineering
> Avg. annual earnings: $112,291
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 37.8%
> Unemployment rate: 2.9%
> No. degree holders: 520,750
2. Molecular biology
> Avg. annual earnings: $113,439
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 62.1%
> Unemployment rate: 2.3%
> No. degree holders: 124,600
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1. Mathematics and computer science
> Avg. annual earnings: $116,049
> Graduates with master’s degree or higher: 48.6%
> Unemployment rate: 1.8%
> No. degree holders: 28,482
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
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