The 10 College Majors That Command the Highest Salaries
Mar 16, 2010
Wondering which bachelor degree will give you the most earning power in the job market? Read on to discover the 10 top-paid bachelor's degrees for 2011, as well as the fields that received the most job offers.
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Engineering Your Future
Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) tracks the top-paid majors among new college graduates. The data are based on the average starting salary for students in each field who received a job offer upon graduation.
Like in past years, engineers dominated the top of the list - as you can see below, engineering fields represent seven of the top 10 majors and four of the top five. And all of the top 10 are in technical fields, which is also consistent with past salary survey results.
So what's the take home message here? If high salary potential is your top requirement for your college education, then start bulking up on those STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. A technical degree represents your fastest route to serious earning power.
Top-Paid Bachelor's Degrees in 2011
| Major | Average Salary Offer |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $66,886 |
| Computer Science | $63,017 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $54,915 |
| Electrical & Communications Engineering | $60,646 |
| Computer Engineering | $60,112 |
| Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering | $58,549 |
| Systems Engineering | $57,497 |
| Engineering Technology | $57,176 |
| Information Sciences & Systems | $56,868 |
| Business Systems Networking & Telecommunications | $56,808 |
Source: NACE Spring 2011 Salary Survey
From Degree to Career
There is another important factor to consider for career-oriented students: How likely are you to get a job offer upon graduation? It's great that the average starting salary for chemical engineers was over $65,000 this year, but what if that's out of only 20 available positions?
Students who are seeking to maximize their job security after college may be more interested in the fields that received the most offers. A job with a lower starting salary is, after all, better than no job at all, particularly if you're working in a field with a high potential for growth. Although these data are not yet available from the Spring 2011 Salary Survey, NACE has released job offer information from the Winter 2011 Salary Survey, which reflects job offers for 2010-2011 graduates.
In spite of the recent crisis in the financial industry, accounting and finance dominated the top of the list. So study up on math - whether you want to be an accountant or an engineer, it's the ticket to a secure professional future.
Top Jobs for 2010-2011 Bachelor's Degrees
| Profession | Average Salary Offer |
|---|---|
| Accounting (private) | $50,705 |
| Consulting | $59.933 |
| Accounting (public) | $45,395 |
| Financial / treasury analysis | $52,689 |
| Sales | $65,291 |
| Management trainee (entry-level) | $43,297 |
Source: NACE Winter 2011 Salary Survey
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