11.15.2010 / College Degrees and where they Pay Part 1
Every year, thousands of eager freshman start their first year in college with little ideas about what they want to do or what they are passionate about. Many will start somewhere and change majors during school; in fact, around 50% of college students change their major (and some do it more than once)!
We have put together two different lists for you that show the top ten highest and lowest paying college degrees. This is the first installment of our two part series:
Highest Paying
- Engineering – While seven of the top ten highest paying degrees are actually in engineering, we rolled it into one mention.
Average first year salary: $59,000
Average mid-career salary: $101,000 - Physics – Physics provides a very broad based major for those in science, who could continue to careers in medicine, engineering and education.
Average first year salary: $50,700
Average mid-career salary: $99,600 - Economics – Many think that economics is just statistics and math, but economics majors also study social sciences, psychology, political science and history. Many economics majors also end up in law school.
Average first year salary: $48,800
Average mid-career salary: $97,800 - Computer Science – Majoring in computer science will allow you to create, describe and transform information; and become an asset to almost any company. As an added base, many start-up companies are founded by people with computer science backgrounds.
Average first year salary: $56,200
Average mid-career salary: $97,700 - Construction Management – A construction manager’s job is to oversee construction projects from planning to ribbon cutting. As construction of new buildings has never gone away, the demand for this career should never either.
Average first year salary: $52,900
Average mid-career salary: $94,500 - Statistics – As a stats major, you’ll be a numbers cruncher or data analyzer. Your knowledge can be used for anything from business applications to political strategizing.
Average first year salary: $50,000
Average mid-career salary: $92,900 - Finance -
Average first year salary: $47,500
Average mid-career salary: $91,500 - Information Systems – IS is a blend between Computer Sciences and business; which makes this major blend into many environments. No matter if you take the management information systems or computing route, your path ahead with be profitable.
Average first year salary: $50,900
Average mid-career salary: $90,300 - Mathematics – One thing that is constant in most of these majors thus far is an emphasis in math. Majoring in Math can lead you into the fields of banking, finance, insurance or education.
Average first year salary: $46,400
Average mid-career salary: $88,300 - Government – It may sound simplistic to most, but the majority of those with government degrees obtain positions in their local, state or the federal government. Many corporations are seeking those with government degrees to shepherd international business negotiations and many government students also go to law school
Average first year salary: $41,500
Average mid-career salary: $87,300
Although we don’t recommend taking pay as the only consideration as you choose your career, it should be one of them. As the saying goes, “Do what you love and the money will come.” Make sure you know what you can expect to make before you graduate so there are no surprises when you get your first job offer.
*http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp
