Highest-paying college majors 5 years after graduation

Engineering majors earn the highest salaries right out of college and are still near the top years later.

Accordingly latest findings Based on 2024 U.S. Census data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the most current data available.

The analysis breaks down the annual earnings of college graduates by major and reflects the income of full-time workers whose highest degree is a bachelor’s degree, excluding currently enrolled students. Various engineering degrees have consistently ranked among the highest-paying fields in recent years.

The highest-paying majors for workers ages 22 to 27 are computer engineering, computer science and chemical engineering; recent graduates earn an average early career salary of $85,000 or more. This is well above the median personal income in the United States (just over $45,000). US Census Bureau data.

But engineering accounts for about 6% of bachelor’s degrees awarded nationwide, representing a relatively small share of all college graduates. latest data From the National Center for Education Statistics.

Here are the 18 majors that provide the highest salaries for workers ages 22 to 27:

1. Computer engineering: $90,000
2. Computer Science: $87,000
3. Chemical engineering: $85,000
4. Aerospace engineering: $85,000
5. Industrial engineering: $83,000
6. Electrical engineering: $82,000
7. Mechanical Engineering: $80,000
8. Construction services: $75,000
9. Civil Engineering: $75,000
10. General engineering: $75,000
11. Various engineering: $75,000
12. Economy: $72,000
13. Business analytics: $72,000
14. Finance: $70,000
15. Maths: $70,000
16. Nursing: $70,000
17. Maths: $70,000
18. Finance: $70,000

engineering graduates strong demand continues Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows they were awarded this award for their blend of mathematical skills and technical expertise that are valuable across a wide range of industries.

While there is artificial intelligence restatement Looking at how technical jobs are done, employment in many engineering fields is still projected to grow over the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Engineering also tends to pay well over time. Among graduates ages 35 to 45, every engineering major reports an average salary of at least $100,000. Here are all the majors with average mid-career earnings of $100,000 or more, according to the New York Fed.

1. Chemical engineering: $135,000
2. Computer engineering: $131,000
3. Aerospace engineering: $130,000
4. Electrical engineering: $123,000
5. Computer Science: $120,000
6. Mechanical Engineering: $120,000
7. Construction services: $120,000
8. Civil Engineering: $115,000
9. Economy: $115,000
10. Finance: $112,000
11. Business analytics: $109,000
12. General engineering: $105,000
13. Various engineering: $105,000
14. Physical: $105,000
15. Engineering technologies: $104,000
16. Industrial engineering: $100,000
17. Maths: $100,000
18. Information systems: $100,000
19. Marketing: $100,000
20. Biochemistry: $100,000
21. Political science: $100,000

In contrast, education and arts majors tend to earn significantly less overall. Six education majors, ages 35 to 45, report average earnings of less than $60,000, placing them among the lowest-paid fields in the study.

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