Education and health care degrees can result in very meaningful work, but to go where the money is, think about majoring in a STEM field.
Science, technology, engineering and math subjects dominate PayScale’s 2020-2021 College Salary Report database.
PayScale, a compensation data website, says it used salary information from 3.5 million respondents for this ranking.
Based on mid-career incomes, the following are the 25 highest-paying bachelor’s degree careers, starting with No. 25 and moving to the top spot.
25. Electrical and computer engineering (ECE)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $73,900
- Mid-career: $123,300
24. Corporate accounting and finance
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $61,200
- Mid-career: $123,600
23. Computer science (CS) and engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,000
- Mid-career: $124,000
22. Nuclear engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $73,100
- Mid-career: $124,500
21. Computer systems engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,600
- Mid-career: $124,800
20. Marine engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,700
- Mid-career: $125,000
18. Operations and information systems management (tie)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $63,800
- Mid-career: $125,100
18. Political economy (tie)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $58,200
- Mid-career: $125,100
17. Aeronautical engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $71,600
- Mid-career: $125,900
16. Information and computer science
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $70,300
- Mid-career: $127,600
15. Actuarial science
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $64,700
- Mid-career: $128,700
14. Chemical engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career:$73,500
- Mid-career: $128,900
13. Aerospace studies
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $50,300
- Mid-career: $130,300
12. Actuarial mathematics
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $61,900
- Mid-career: $130,500
11. Electrical power engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $73,100
- Mid-career: $130,700
10. Systems engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,000
- Mid-career: $132,900
9. Aeronautics and astronautics
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,000
- Mid-career: $133,100
8. Pharmacy
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $66,300
- Mid-career: $133,200
7. Quantitative business analysis
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $67,900
- Mid-career: $136,200
6. Chemical engineering/materials science and engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $74,500
- Mid-career: $137,800
5. Public accounting
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $60,000
- Mid-career: $138,800
3. Applied economics and management (tie)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $60,900
- Mid-career: $139,600
3. Operations research (tie)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $78,400
- Mid-career: $139,600
2. Electrical engineering and computer science (EECS)
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $101,200
- Mid-career: $152,300
1. Petroleum engineering
Median salaries for people with a bachelor’s degree in this subject:
- Early career: $92,300
- Mid-career: $182,000
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