By Elizabeth Hartley
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April 21, 2025
Using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York—and factoring in both early and mid-career salaries—these are the ten highest-paying college majors along with the average salary reported by graduates aged 22-27: 1) Computer Engineering: $80,000 Computer engineering majors learn the ins and outs of computer construction. This major is like product design but specifically focused on computers. You have the chance to come up with new computer systems while gaining experience in research, advancing existing technologies, and testing. Maybe you’ll even graduate with a patent or two! 2) Chemical Engineering: $79,000 Chemical engineering majors study the ins and outs of chemical processes, immersing themselves in topics like thermodynamics, process design, and fluid mechanics. Out in the workforce, a chemical engineer’s skillset is quite versatile and in demand, with chemical engineers found in sectors from environmental engineering to pharmaceuticals. Certain specialties, like petroleum engineering, can be especially lucrative. Read: Best Colleges for Chemical Engineering . 3) Computer Science: $78,000 Of the highest-paying college majors, computer science is one of the most popular. Affording a blend of the technical and creative, this major equips you to work across industries. Plus, studying computer science gives you the tools to shape thoughtful tech policy, the need for which will likely increase with the growth of AI. Even though Big Tech has suffered from layoffs over the past several years, and some entry-level CS sectors are currently oversaturated, there are many remunerative ways to apply a computer science degree. Read: Best Colleges for Computer Science 4) Aerospace Engineering: $74,000 Majoring in aerospace engineering will provide in-depth training in aerodynamics, structural design, materials science, and flight mechanics. Accordingly, aerospace engineers are often found putting their skills to good use in the aviation, spacecraft, and defense industries. Certain states, like California, Texas, and Florida, are especially good locations for aerospace majors. Read: Best Colleges for Aerospace Engineering 5) Electrical Engineering: $72,000 Was your favorite part of science class building circuit boards? If so, then an electrical engineering major might be the right fit. Think classroom circuits, but turbo-charged. You will acquire fluency in electromagnetism, materials science, and more. With this knowledge base, you can enter an array of industries, from renewable energy and telecommunications to healthcare. Read: Best Colleges for Electrical Engineering. 6) Industrial Engineering: $71,000 In a world ruled by highly efficient businesses in the mold of Amazon or Walmart, there is a constant need to improve industrial productivity, delivery, scheduling, and customer service. It is often said that industrial engineering is where “engineering meets people” as those in the field bring principles of mathematics, economics, and systems analysis directly onto the manufacturing floor. Banks, governments, transportation agencies, hospitals, and utility companies are also major employers of industrial engineers. Read: Best Colleges for Industrial Engineering. 7) Mechanical Engineering: $70,000 Mechanical engineers are tasked with taking something from an idea to a product that is functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. To accomplish this monumental task, students must become well-versed in physics, engineering, and materials science. The job outlook for mechanical engineers is excellent, due, in part, to the wide variety of industries that hire them, including the automative, biomedical, and manufacturing sectors. Read: Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering 8) Finance: $66,000 Finance majors emerge from their undergraduate studies as budding experts in areas such as stocks, bonds, wealth management, financial planning, investment banking, and venture capitalism. Future Wall Street wolves hoping to enter a major financial firm such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, or BlackRock would do well to attend a college or university that serves as direct pipelines to such companies. Read: Best Colleges for Finance 9) Economics: $65,000 While some who major in this highly rigorous discipline will go on to obtain graduate degrees and earn the title of “economist,” most economics majors will parlay their skills into employment opportunities in government, finance, and the business world. Accordingly, they emerge from four years of study with a deep understanding of market forces, regulations, trade, finance, and the principles of economic theory. Read: Best Colleges for Economics 10) Construction Services: $64,000 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the industry of construction management to grow by 8% through 2029, good news for young people with a passion for pursuing a degree in this field. A bachelor’s degree can put students on the path toward becoming facilities managers, site engineers, surveyors, sustainability consultants, or even down the road—senior-level managers and executives for large construction companies. Read: Best Colleges for Construction Management The rest:
