Choosing the right major can have a huge impact on your future income. It is important to consider this when you are thinking about the costs of your college education.
Top-paying majors tend to be in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) but that doesn’t mean you should avoid other degrees.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering combines the sciences, particularly chemistry, with math and engineering to efficiently produce, transform and transport materials. You can see the work of chemical engineers in nearly every aspect of modern life.
At $68,000, chemical engineering has the highest median early-career salary of any major on this list. The degree requires a lot of problem-solving skills and deep understanding of how basic chemical reactions translate to full-scale industrial processes.
Typically, chemical engineers will spend much of their time in manufacturing plants or research laboratories, where they are often working around large-scale production equipment. Because of this, they typically have to wear personal protective equipment like hard hats and goggles.
For students interested in biology, but who want a more hands-on approach to studying it, consider a degree in biochemistry and this link https://baoxinviec.shop/. This interdisciplinary degree will combine advanced courses in chemistry and biology with lots of lab work, giving you a unique perspective on the world around you.
The metallurgical engineering field is all about how metals can be used for everything from microchips to cars. This makes a career in this area a natural fit for anyone with an interest in chemistry, math and science. Many metallurgical engineers gain experience through a co-op or internship during their undergraduate studies. Many of these opportunities are available through the school’s engineering department.
Industrial Engineering
When looking at the top college degrees for high salaries, it’s clear that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields lead the pack. That’s not to suggest that students with non-STEM degrees can’t have stable careers, too – just that they may take longer to reach their earning potential.
The highest-paying majors include fields like petroleum engineering, industrial engineering and miscellaneous engineering. All three of these majors deal directly with the economic structures that contemporary lifestyles rely on. For example, petroleum engineers help tap into oil and gas deposits that fuel our cars, trucks and airplanes. Meanwhile, industrial engineering focuses on finding ways to streamline work processes for greater efficiency and quality.
Those with industrial engineering degrees are able to optimize the integration of people, materials, natural resources and information. They can also use their skills to improve a company’s financial health. In fact, companies turn to industrial engineering professionals to find ways to save money, cut costs and boost productivity every day.
Those who choose this field are often detail-oriented and prize efficiency. They tend to be logical thinkers who can see how systems connect and influence each other, making them well-suited for management roles within an organization. Those with this degree may enjoy working in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, energy and finance.
Information Systems and Management
Almost any business requires information systems to run smoothly, from tracking sales and employee performance to managing payroll and inventory. This major merges technical expertise with business management skills, and graduates work in a wide range of industries.
Everyone collects data these days, but it’s only worth anything if you can put it to use in decision-making. MIS (management information systems) focuses on collecting, processing and distributing this information to managers, employees and customers. It’s not all programming, but if you love technology and people, this may be the major for you.
Computer engineers design, build and maintain computer hardware and software systems — everything from microprocessors to supercomputers. These systems are used in virtually every industry, including telecommunications, finance and banking. They’re in high demand, and computer engineering has the highest mid-career median salary of any major.
A bachelor’s degree isn’t just about what you learn in the classroom; it also sets the stage for your career, and the best degrees tend to lead to the highest salaries. But a STEM degree isn’t the only way to boost your earnings potential — even a bachelor’s in English or Shakespearean studies can bring in respectable money four years after graduation. And that’s especially true for degrees in fields that require a mix of math and science, such as chemical engineering or biology.
Economics
Among non-engineering degrees, Economics is one of the top college majors for high salaries. Students in this field explore the economic system, including money management, public policy and theory. Students also hone their skills in statistics, research and analytical thinking. They can work in banking, investing and insurance industries as well as government environments.
Business administration, meanwhile, is a perennial contender for the top-earning degree. Graduates can make money as financial managers, earning an average of $123,968 yearly; supply chain managers, who rake in $108,783 a year; and sales managers, who make $107,319 a year. The degree also equips graduates for leadership roles with entrepreneurial potential.
Another highly remunerative degree is nursing, with career options that span all levels of the healthcare spectrum. Nurses can choose from specialized fields such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, who earn a median salary of $203,090 a year; or nurses who focus on the aging population, like Neonatal Intensive Care nurses, who are compensated with average salaries around $136,592. The list of the best college degrees for high salaries also includes cybersecurity. These professionals are on the digital frontline, safeguarding information from cyber threats and attacks. They are in demand across all sectors and earn impressive starting salaries. A Bachelor of Science degree in computer science is a solid path to a lucrative career as well, especially with the growing popularity of AI.