College Majors with Highest Salary Jobs

You’ve heard the old saying: do what you love; love what you do. But, unfortunately, doing what you love doesn’t always lead to a lucrative career. Given that more students are graduating with debt than not, money may lead to financial freedom – which could “buy” a degree of happiness. On average, a college student graduates with roughly $29,300 in debt, according to CollegeBoard. That may lead some potential college students to wonder if going to a four-year university is even worth it. Last year, however, research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, stated that college graduates make at least $17,500 more per year than a high school graduate, as reported by U.S. Career Institute. Essentially, a college degree is worth it if your career path requires it and you’re the type of student that would thrive on a college campus. At the same time, if you want to get more bang for your buck, you may want to consider a college major that will provide a higher income after graduating in order to pay off student loan debt. Or – you could always choose a college major that you love. It’s up to you. But to help you make a well-rounded decision, you don't need a salary calculator. Just check out the highest paid college majors below, according to Payscale. Maybe you’ll find one that you love and can provide you with financial freedom.

10 College Majors with Highest Salary Jobs

1. Computer Engineering

A computer engineer designs, develops, and maintains computer systems and networks. They may also specialize in fields like robotics or AI. The job involved research, design, development, testing, and repairs. Median pay for a computer engineer is $102,000.

2. Computer Science

Computer scientists can find jobs in a variety of fields. In addition to developing and maintaining computer systems and networks, they can also create new technologies and algorithms or solve problems within existing technologies. Median pay for a computer scientist is $99,100.

3. Engineering

The term engineer covers a breadth of fields, but generally, engineers design, build, and maintain structures, systems, and processes. They do this by using scientific and mathematical principles. The median pay for engineers is $99,100.

4. Electrical & Computer Engineering

Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems, hardware, and processes. These types of engineers are needed in multiple fields, like electronics, telecommunications, and manufacturing. Median pay for electrical and computer engineers is $97,400.

5. Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers are more of a specialty within the engineering field. They deal specifically with designing, developing, testing, and maintaining electrical systems. The median pay for electrical engineers is $95,300.

6. Software Engineering

Software engineering is yet another specialized form of engineering. These engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. Median pay for engineers in this field is $94,200.

7. Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers take engineering principles and apply them to chemistry. They design and develop processes for chemical manufacturing. In this role, engineers will use chemistry, physics, and mathematics to solve problems related to chemistry or biochemistry. The median pay for chemical engineers is $92,700.

8. Management Information Systems

An employee working in management information systems will design, implement, and manage computer systems to support business operations and decision-making. This may look like securing information, analyzing data, managing users, and building reports. Median pay in this role is $92,200.

9. Information Technology Management

An information technology manager oversees and directs all computer-related issues in a business or organization. They ensure efficient and effective operation of systems, applications, and infrastructure. IT managers make a median salary of $90,000.

10. Computer Information Systems

This role is very similar, if not the same, to an IT manager in many organizations. Computer information managers ensure that all systems are running smoothly and companies are using up-to-date technologies. The median pay for computer information managers is $87,500.