College Degrees That Actually Help Make You Money (ranked)
What A Degree Gets You
A bachelor’s degree can mean earning $1,432 weekly, but some majors far exceed this. This ranking reveals the top-paying degrees supported by data from the BLS, PayScale, Indeed, and more. (The amounts in the headings are approximate averages.)
Actuarial Science: $108,350
Actuarial Science might not be the first major that comes to mind, but it’s one of the most rewarding. Actuaries use math and financial theory to assess risk, typically in insurance, pensions, or investment sectors. Starting salaries are around $70,000, but seasoned actuaries can earn well over $200,000 annually.
Chemical Engineering: $107,000
Alumni from schools like MIT and Stanford have gone on to innovate in biotech, clean energy, etc. A mid-career salary can surpass $140,000, with top earners in the oil and gas industry making even more. Chemical engineers helped develop everything from COVID-19 vaccines to sustainable biofuels.
Computer Engineering: $105,000
Computer engineers are behind some of the most essential innovations—from creating the microchips in your phone to designing supercomputers. Many Silicon Valley pioneers, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, studied computer engineering. Entry-level salaries typically start around $75,000, with experienced engineers earning upwards of $150,000.
Electrical Engineering: $103,000
Without electrical engineers, advances like Tesla’s electric cars or SpaceX’s rockets wouldn’t be possible. Early-career salaries average $70,000, while senior engineers in fields like aerospace or telecommunications can exceed $180,000. Electrical engineers design and maintain the systems that keep modern life running smoothly.
