Majors by Salary Potential – Full List
RANK MAJOR
1
Petroleum Engineering
2
Actuarial Mathematics
3
Nuclear Engineering
4
Chemical Engineering
5
Aerospace Engineering
6 - tie Electrical Engineering (EE)
6 - tie Computer Engineering (CE)
8
Computer Science (CS)
9
Physics
10
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
11
Materials Science & Engineering
12
Software Engineering
13
Statistics
14
Government
15
Economics
16
Applied Mathematics
17
Industrial Engineering (IE)
Management Information Systems
18
(MIS)
19
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
20
Civil Engineering (CE)
21
Environmental Engineering
22 - tie Construction Management
22 - tie Mathematics
24
Electrical Engineering Technology (EET)
25
Computer Information Systems (CIS)
26
Information Systems (IS)
27
Finance
28
International Relations
29
Geology
STARTING SALARY
$103,000
$58,700
$67,600
$68,200
$62,800
$64,300
$65,300
$59,800
$53,100
$60,900
$62,700
$60,500
$52,500
$43,200
$50,100
$52,800
$61,100
MID-CAREER SALARY
$160,000
$120,000
$117,000
$115,000
$109,000
$106,000
$106,000
$102,000
$101,000
$99,700
$99,500
$99,300
$98,900
$97,100
$96,700
$96,200
$94,400
$53,800
$92,200
$59,000
$54,300
$49,400
$51,500
$49,400
$57,900
$50,800
$51,900
$49,200
$41,700
$46,100
$91,700
$91,100
$89,800
$88,800
$88,800
$87,600
$87,400
$87,200
$87,100
$85,700
$85,300
30 - tie
30 - tie
32 - tie
32 - tie
34 - tie
34 - tie
36
37
38
39
40
41 - tie
41 - tie
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60 - tie
Chemistry
Information Technology (IT)
Biotechnology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
(MET)
Supply Chain Management
International Business
Industrial Design (ID)
Industrial Technology (IT)
Telecommunications
Food Science
Occupational Health and Safety
Biochemistry (BCH)
Marketing Management
Civil Engineering Technology (CET)
Advertising
Philosophy
Marketing & Communications
Fashion Design
Political Science (PolySci)
Linguistics
Molecular Biology
Architecture
Accounting
Agriculture
Microbiology
Global & International Studies
Urban Planning
Nursing
Environmental Science
English Literature
Business Administration
$44,100
$49,900
$48,700
$84,100
$84,100
$84,000
$54,100
$84,000
$52,800
$43,800
$44,800
$50,800
$43,100
$45,200
$50,500
$42,900
$42,100
$49,200
$40,000
$39,700
$40,200
$39,400
$41,700
$39,700
$40,400
$41,900
$45,300
$38,500
$40,800
$39,600
$41,100
$55,400
$41,300
$40,800
$43,500
$83,700
$83,700
$82,200
$81,500
$81,200
$80,500
$80,300
$80,200
$80,200
$79,700
$79,400
$78,300
$77,600
$77,100
$77,000
$76,800
$76,400
$75,800
$74,900
$73,600
$73,400
$73,200
$72,200
$71,700
$71,500
$71,400
$71,000
60 - tie
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86 - tie
86 - tie
88 - tie
88 - tie
90
91
92 - tie
History
Film Production
Biology
Health Sciences
Hotel Management
Communication
Forestry
American Studies
Broadcast Journalism
Landscape Architecture
Speech Communication
Journalism
Zoology
Geography
Public Administration
French Language
English Language
German Language
Human Resources (HR)
Public Relations (PR)
Hospitality & Tourism
Humanities
Anthropology
Multimedia & Web Design
Psychology
Medical Technology
Liberal Arts
Kinesiology
Visual Communications
Organizational Management
Interior Design
Nutrition
$39,700
$38,200
$40,200
$38,400
$40,600
$40,000
$40,000
$41,400
$32,700
$41,200
$39,400
$38,100
$37,400
$40,800
$40,600
$40,900
$38,700
$41,400
$38,800
$37,400
$35,700
$37,900
$36,200
$41,600
$36,300
$48,900
$36,600
$35,600
$37,300
$41,900
$36,000
$41,300
$71,000
$70,900
$70,800
$70,500
$69,800
$69,600
$69,400
$69,000
$68,800
$68,700
$68,100
$67,700
$67,600
$67,200
$66,900
$66,700
$65,200
$65,000
$63,900
$63,300
$62,600
$61,800
$61,400
$61,300
$60,700
$60,500
$60,500
$60,400
$60,400
$60,300
$59,300
$59,100
92 - tie
94
95
96 - tie
96 - tie
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107 tie
107 tie
109
110
111
112 tie
112 tie
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
Fashion Merchandising
Art History
Sociology
Health Care Administration
Theater
Criminal Justice
Radio & Television
Fine Arts
Religious Studies
Sports Medicine
Art
Classics
Dietetics
Public Health (PH)
$39,100
$36,900
$37,400
$39,300
$36,200
$35,300
$37,900
$37,400
$34,900
$39,300
$36,100
$38,700
$44,200
$35,900
$59,100
$59,000
$58,800
$58,600
$58,600
$58,400
$58,300
$58,200
$57,900
$57,400
$57,100
$57,000
$56,600
$56,500
Physical Education Teaching
$34,900
$56,300
Drama
$35,600
$56,300
Graphic Design
Photography
Sports Management
$37,000
$36,200
$37,000
$56,000
$55,500
$55,400
Education
$37,400
$55,200
Animal Science
$33,600
$55,200
Social Science
Interdisciplinary Studies (IS)
Paralegal Studies
Theology
Recreation & Leisure Studies
Music
Culinary Arts
$37,300
$37,600
$35,000
$34,000
$35,000
$35,700
$34,800
$54,800
$53,400
$53,000
$52,200
$51,900
$51,400
$51,100
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
Exercise Science
Horticulture
Biblical Studies
Special Education
Human Development
Athletic Training
Social Work (SW)
Elementary Education
Child & Family Studies
$32,600
$35,200
$35,400
$33,800
$35,900
$34,800
$33,000
$32,200
$30,300
$51,000
$50,900
$50,800
$49,600
$48,000
$46,900
$46,600
$45,300
$37,200
Methodology
This chart is based upon PayScale Salary Survey data for full-time employees in the United States who possess a
bachelor's degree and no higher degrees and have majored in the subjects listed above. These results may not
represent all graduates with these degrees. More than 1,000 colleges and universities across the U.S. were
included. As a result, median salary figures may be skewed toward large state universities, since these schools have
the largest attendance. Salary is the sum of compensation from base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, commissions,
and overtime, if applicable. Salary does not include equity (stock) compensation.