Computer engineering might appeal to problem-solvers and technology enthusiasts.” This role tends to include a high amount of research and development, testing, and quality assurance. Computer engineers design, build, and maintain hardware in modern computers…Along with personal devices, computer engineers have a hand in creating robotics, networks, and other computer-based systems. According to, computer engineers combine “electrical engineering and computer science to develop new technology. According to CompTIA, computer engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and systems analysts make up the second-largest category of tech jobs. Job has meaning: 46% (Percent who said “very much so” or yes to, “Does your work make the world a better place?")Ĭomputer hardware engineers research, design, develop and improve computer systems, as well as components including circuit boards, networks and routers.Job is stressful: 42% (Percent who said their jobs is extremely or fairly stressful).Job satisfaction: 70% (Percent who said they are extremely or fairly satisfied in their jobs).
Information about the number of positions in each field, projected growth and further salary numbers were provided by the U.S. Payscale also provided “high job meaning” scores, which indicate the percentage of workers with each college major who say their work makes the world a better place. See if something on our list appeals to you.įor each of the college majors, Payscale provided median annual salaries for entry-level workers (with five years or less of work experience) and mid-career employees (with at least 10 years of experience). (Spoiler alert: STEM majors-that is, fields in science, technology, engineering and math-dominate.) Check out the best college majors for a lucrative career. Our list presents the best shots at success and satisfaction in the workplace, complete with generous incomes and an abundance of job opportunities. Asked if their jobs made the world a better place, 54% said yes, or "very much so." In this population, 67% said they were extremely or fairly satisfied with their job, while 59% said their jobs were extremely or fairly stressful. Across those majors in this survey, the early career pay was $60,000 with mid career pay coming to $92,100. This year, PayScale looked at a nearly 159,000 salary profiles submitted over the past year and culled a total of 50 college majors.
The survey also asked how satisfied workers were in their chosen fields, how much stress they experienced and whether they feel they make the world a better place.
Plus, we factored in the percentage of workers who feel their jobs have a positive impact on the world, as having a sense of purpose can be just as important as having a good payday. We looked for courses of study that tend to lead to fat paychecks-both right out of school and further along their career path. To determine which majors typically come with the best hiring prospects and salary, we consulted with compensation research firm Payscale, which ran data for us from its salary survey of more than 150,000 workers with bachelor’s degrees. And with student loan payments looming for many, we thought it would be good to know which college majors pay best. Specifically, people with bachelor’s degrees had a median weekly paycheck of $1,305 (more than $67,000 a year) in 2020, compared to $781 (or $40,600) for workers with a high school diploma.īut not all college degrees are created equal. People with higher levels of education generally earn higher salaries. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s degrees are required for 169 occupations in this country.
College is often considered the surest path to a lucrative career.