Use Your College Major to Estimate Salary and Find a Job

Only 18% of students consider salary when choosing their college major. Most students make the decision based on personal interest, desire, and hope to help others. Research shows this is an effective way to ensure career satisfaction and personal happiness. At the same time, an argument can be made that knowing future salary ranges for your college major can help you make wiser choices today. For instance, it’s recommended that students should never borrow more on student loans than their expected annual starting salary. Without knowing that figure, borrowers could be overborrowing and jeopardizing their future financial security. While money can’t buy happiness, it can certainly help students make smart decisions about their future today. It’s recommended that high school and college students alike should research salaries for intended majors and top-paying jobs to have successful graduation outcomes, ensure financial responsibility, and guarantee career satisfaction. This guide walks you through how to use today’s best salary research tools to plan your post-graduation job search, sharpen your skills, and negotiate your first job offer with confidence.

Step 1: Look Up Salary Ranges by Major

The first step is to research salary ranges by major. With the tools below, you can view average starting, median, and maximum salaries. You can also filter your results by location, job title, and experience level.

Tool	Best For	Key Feature
BLS Occupational Handbook	Understanding career paths tied to major	Includes job growth projections through 2033
Glassdoor Salary Index	Entry-level salary benchmarks	Features company-specific pay data and reviews
Indeed	Job title and location combinations	Draws from millions of active job listings

When using these Salary Tools, search by job title rather than major. A college major can lead to multiple career paths, each with its own salary range. For instance, a computer science major can lead to a career in software engineering, data scientist, information security analyst, or IT project manager.

Step 2: Find High-Demand Job Markets

Where you work can have a big impact on the salary you make starting out as well as over time. Searching for the same job title over several different cities can yield very different results in salary projections, job security, and long-term career growth. Use the tools below to find the best job markets for your field: • BLS OEWS Tool: See which metro areas have the highest concentration of jobs in your field and what they pay. • LinkedIn: Filter by job title and location and sort by “Most Recent” to gauge which markets are hiring. • Glassdoor Location Filters: Compare median salaries for the same role across several different cities side-by-side. Keep in mind cost of living as you search different job markets. A $75,000 annual salary will look different in Denver than in Manhattan. Use NerdWallet’s Cost of Living Calculator to figure how far you can stretch your salary in different cities based on job title.

Step 3: Search for Entry-Level Jobs by Major

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start job searching. You can use several different sites to find jobs by location, title, and experience level: • Fastweb Internships – If you’re a student and not quite ready for full-time employment, you can search for internships on Fastweb. Our database features both paid and unpaid internships, and you can search for roles by title, employer, and location. • LinkedIn – This social media platform also features a robust catalogue of job postings. The platform will populate jobs for you based on your profile – or resume. • Indeed – Need an entry-level position? This job search engine allows you to search specifically for entry-level job titles. • Handshake – Handshake is specifically designed to connect college graduates with entry-level jobs. • College Career Centers – Finally, don’t sleep on your campus career center. This service can be invaluable to college students. It provides networking opportunities, resume and cover letter help, and can help facilitate interviews with companies that have a history of hiring college graduates from that particular school. Pro Tip: Don’t wait until your senior year to search for a job opportunity. Start with an internship during your sophomore or junior year, which will give you real work experience to highlight on your resume and in job interviews. It may also lead to a full-time job offer after college.

Step 4: Build the Skills Employers Want

You can begin building hard and soft skills for the job you want after college. There are a few strategies you can implement now to achieve this: 1. Browse job listings for roles you may be interested in and note the skills or qualifications required. 2. Close the hard skills gap by taking certification courses online. You can find these on platforms like Coursera, HubSpot, or Google. These courses are oftentimes free, or low cost, and take just a few hours to complete. 3. Add these certifications to your LinkedIn profile and resume. 4. Develop soft skills, like communication, adaptability, and teamwork. You can do this through joining clubs and organizations on campus or volunteering in your community. Start off as a participant during your freshman and sophomore years and then move into leadership roles as an upperclassman. Don’t forget to include these roles and skills on your resume.

Step 5: Negotiate Your First Salary with Confidence

Once you’ve interviewed and are in talks to take on your first job after graduation, it’s time to talk about salary. This is oftentimes the hardest, and most uncomfortable, hurdle for college graduates to cross. Here’s what you need to keep in mind as you prepare for that conversation: • Have a number in mind. You’ve done your research if you’ve completed Steps 1 – 4; now use it to your advantage. Find an average starting salary for the role as well as for the location you’re interviewing for. Be prepared with a number, and it’s ok to ask for higher than what you have in mind. • Factor in cost of living. Remember that salaries differ based on location. Be sure you’ve researched salaries for your location as well as other expenses you’ll have: rent, utilities, car payment, student loan payment, groceries, etc. Make sure the number you have is enough to cover these expenses and more. • Understand the full compensation package. There’s more to your salary than the amount of money you make. Ask about health benefits, 401K contributions, paid time off, remote working possibilities, and bonuses. All of these should factor into your conversation and consideration when taking a role. • Practice your conversation. Again, this can be awkward, especially the first time. Work on saying the following confidently: “Based on my research of the role and location as well as taking into consideration my skills and experience, I was hoping we could get to $________.” Pro Tip: Accepting the first offer is a sign of inexperience. It’s likely more money than you’ve ever made in your life, but don’t be afraid to ask for higher. It won’t seem ungrateful; it will signal experience and knowing your self-worth.

Career Planning Checklist for Students

Finding a job involves research, planning, and prep work. There are several benefits to career planning as a student. Use your research to: • Consider other college majors related to the degree you’re interested in. College is about discovering what you enjoy. You may find a new field of study with more career potential. • Ensure you pick a major that will translate to a high-demand career. It’s important to find a job after college graduation, as you could have student loans to pay back. • Find the best job markets in the United States. Search for internships in these cities prior to your senior year of college or final year of grad school. Establishing connections and networks as an intern will enhance your odds of landing a job in a location that pays well. You'll save time on your job search by applying for jobs in the right cities. • Know what unique skills you need, before you graduate. Understanding the skill-sets employers are looking for helps you set yourself apart. You may consider getting an online certification, adding specific college courses to your student schedule or joining niche student clubs related to the career you'd like to pursue. • Negotiate your first salary with confidence. Get paid what you deserve, by understanding what the average pay is for graduates in your field. Expand your knowledge by comparing expected pay with the cost of living in high-demand cities.