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In my first few weeks of college, every other person I met said that they wanted to major in molecular biology. Having spent the better part of high school biology doodling in my notebook, this made very little sense to me. But this phenomenon—let’s call it MoBio FOMO—reflected the economic outlook of the early 2010s. You see, the overwhelming majority of my class began high school on the back of the 2008 Recession. With , the gravitational pull of STEM majors—promising stable, well-paying jobs—was strong. Not surprisingly, STEM’s pull has endured in recent years due to high inflation, a skyrocketing cost of living, and AI developments that promise to . Against this ever-changing landscape, you’re likely curious about the highest-paying college majors of 2025. Luckily, we’ll cover all the details in today’s post.

50 Highest Paying College Majors — 2025

Using data from the —and factoring in both early and mid-career salaries—these are the ten highest-paying college majors along with the average salary reported by graduates aged 22-27:

1) Computer Engineering: $80,000

Computer engineering majors learn the ins and outs of computer construction. This major is like product design but specifically focused on computers. You have the chance to come up with new computer systems while gaining experience in research, advancing existing technologies, and testing. Maybe you’ll even graduate with a patent or two!

2) Chemical Engineering: $79,000

Chemical engineering majors study the ins and outs of chemical processes, immersing themselves in topics like thermodynamics, process design, and fluid mechanics. Out in the workforce, a chemical engineer’s skillset is quite versatile and in demand, with chemical engineers found in sectors from environmental engineering to pharmaceuticals. Certain specialties, like petroleum engineering, can be especially lucrative.

Read: Best Colleges for Chemical Engineering

3) Computer Science: $78,000

Of the highest-paying college majors, computer science is one of the most popular. Affording a blend of the technical and creative, this major equips you to work across industries. Plus, studying computer science gives you the tools to shape thoughtful tech policy, the need for which will likely increase with the growth of AI. Even though Big Tech has suffered from layoffs over the past several years, and some entry-level CS sectors are currently oversaturated, there are many remunerative ways to apply a computer science degree.

Read: Best Colleges for Computer Science

4) Aerospace Engineering: $74,000

Majoring in aerospace engineering will provide in-depth training in aerodynamics, structural design, materials science, and flight mechanics.  Accordingly, aerospace engineers are often found putting their skills to good use in the aviation, spacecraft, and defense industries. Certain states, like California, Texas, and Florida, are especially good locations for aerospace majors.

Read: Best Colleges for Aerospace Engineering

Highest Paying College Majors (Continued) 

5) Electrical Engineering: $72,000

Was your favorite part of science class building circuit boards? If so, then an electrical engineering major might be the right fit. Think classroom circuits, but turbo-charged. You will acquire fluency in electromagnetism, materials science, and more. With this knowledge base, you can enter an array of industries, from renewable energy and telecommunications to healthcare.

Read: Best Colleges for Electrical Engineering

6) Industrial Engineering: $71,000

In a world ruled by highly efficient businesses in the mold of Amazon or Walmart, there is a constant need to improve industrial productivity, delivery, scheduling, and customer service. It is often said that industrial engineering is where “engineering meets people” as those in the field bring principles of mathematics, economics, and systems analysis directly onto the manufacturing floor. Banks, governments, transportation agencies, hospitals, and utility companies are also major employers of industrial engineers.

Read: Best Colleges for Industrial Engineering

7) Mechanical Engineering: $70,000

Mechanical engineers are tasked with taking something from an idea to a product that is functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. To accomplish this monumental task, students must become well-versed in physics, engineering, and materials science. The job outlook for mechanical engineers is excellent, due, in part, to the wide variety of industries that hire them, including the automative, biomedical, and manufacturing sectors.

Read: Best Colleges for Mechanical Engineering

Highest Paying College Majors (Continued) 

8) Finance: $66,000

Finance majors emerge from their undergraduate studies as budding experts in areas such as stocks, bonds, wealth management, financial planning, investment banking, and venture capitalism. Future Wall Street wolves hoping to enter a major financial firm such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, or BlackRock would do well to attend a college or university that serves as direct pipelines to such companies.

Read: Best Colleges for Finance

9) Economics: $65,000

While some who major in this highly rigorous discipline will go on to obtain graduate degrees and earn the title of “economist,” most economics majors will parlay their skills into employment opportunities in government, finance, and the business world. Accordingly, they emerge from four years of study with a deep understanding of market forces, regulations, trade, finance, and the principles of economic theory.

Read: Best Colleges for Economics

10) Construction Services: $64,000

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the industry of construction management to grow by 8% through 2029, good news for young people with a passion for pursuing a degree in this field. A bachelor’s degree can put students on the path toward becoming facilities managers, site engineers, surveyors, sustainability consultants, or even down the road—senior-level managers and executives for large construction companies.

Read: Best Colleges for Construction Management

Highest Paying College Majors — Continued

11: Civil Engineering	$65,000
12: Business Analytics	$65,000
13: Mathematics	$65,000
14: Pharmacy	$64,000
15: Physics	$62,000
16: Nursing	$62,000
17: Physical Sciences	$60,000
18: Engineering Technologies	$60,000
19: Accounting	$60,000
20: Information Systems and Management	$57,000
21: Medical Technicians	$55,000
22: International Affairs	$55,000
23: Public Policy and Law	$53,000
24: Advertising and Public Relations	$52,000
25: Political Science	$50,000
26: Architecture	$50,000
27: Marketing	$50,000
28: Chemistry	$50,000
29: General Business	$50,000
30: Ethnic Studies	$50,000
31: Business Management	$50,000
32: Geography	$50,000
33: Interdisciplinary Studies	$48,000
34: Sociology	$48,000
35: Journalism	$47,000
36: Communications	$47,000
37: Health Services	$45,000
38: Earth Sciences	$45,000
39: Commercial Art & Graphic Design	$45,000
40: Biology	$44,300
41: Environmental Studies	$43,900
42: Foreign Language	$43,500
43: Education	$43,000
44: Mass Media	$42,000
45: English	$42,000
46: Philosophy	$41,000
47: Criminal Justice	$41,000
48: Biochemistry	$41,000
49: Art History	$41,000
50: Animal & Plant Sciences	$41,000

How much does choosing one of the highest-paying college majors matter?

Sometimes, not all that much. What you do—and have done—with the skills you’ve gained during your undergraduate years is typically more important. Internships, extracurriculars, and networking usually carry the most weight when applying for jobs. However, this isn’t always the case in highly specialized or technical fields. Still, there are plenty of ways to upskill and prepare for career pivots, from coding bootcamps to LinkedIn Learning and MOOCs. Even a simple informational interview can go a long way. Plus, there’s always grad school.

That said, if you have a specific career path in mind, be sure to choose a major that will prepare you accordingly. For example, if you ultimately want to be a biomedical engineer but decide to major in art history, you’ll definitely be taking the scenic route to your destination.

Besides my choice of major, what other factors will impact my potential salary?

Your prospective post-graduate salary is just one piece of the puzzle. Other factors to consider are the level of debt you’ll have to take on during your undergraduate years, whether you’ll need to pursue a graduate degree for your career of choice, and the strength of your college’s career network/student outcomes. Does your college have a strong track record of placing students in competitive internships or co-ops? Within six months of graduation, what percentage of students have found a job or enrolled in graduate school? Do students graduate with a level of debt below the national average? How strong and involved is your college’s alumni network? All of these factors can give you more opportunities to build experience, create important contacts, and find a well-paying job connected to your field of study, even if that field of study is not one of the highest-paying college majors.

Highest Paying College Majors (Continued) 

Furthermore, geography can play an important role in your future salary. Where do you think you might want to live after college? If you don’t know, look at where industries that you are interested in are most concentrated. What is the cost of living there? Cities often have data on the minimum livable wage a single person needs per year, which tends to be higher than minimum wage. While you might be earning solidly, you should also consider how much of your paycheck will go into daily expenditures.

Finally, even the highest-paying college majors have pay gaps. According to the Pew Research Center, . The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found that . Their study stated, “Race/ethnicity and gender are wild cards that matter more than education or occupation in determining earnings.” Unfortunately, even at the highest income strata, inequity is deep-seated. And while resisting it over the course of a career paves the way for future generations, it can take a personal and financial toll.

Should I factor the state of the economy into my choice of major?

Just because an industry—or the entire economy—looks one way today, it doesn’t mean it will look the same when you graduate. Building the ability to learn can be more future-proof than what you learn. As a consequence, why not study what you love? Pundits make a living off discussing the future of work, but they often know as much as you do.  Even if market conditions might not currently be ideal, a willingness to be creative, proactive, and open-minded can go a long way.

Even if there are many well-trodden paths out there, they don’t need to be yours. Carving your own route can be more difficult, especially for minorities. But living with a marginalized identity can make you more resourceful and creative, and it’s entirely within your rights to monetize these abilities. In sum, with the right support system, it’s possible. Don’t let fears about the economy or anything else hold your dreams back.

Is it worth it to major in a non-STEM field?

Even though arts and culture form the core of human experience, professions in these industries are chronically underpaid. Because of this, there are far fewer humanities majors than there should be. The cultural field is overrun with people with wealth to fall back on, limiting the diversity of voices present. There are many ways to be an artist, so even if you want to pursue one of the highest-paying college majors until a painting career is sustainable, go for it.

According to an , the top 25% of humanities majors make more money than the average business major. Additionally, the good thing about US colleges is that you have options: you can take classes outside your major, double major, and minor. Therefore, if you have a passion, pursue it.

Hearteningly, statistics show that having a bachelor’s degree matters more than what the bachelor’s degree is in. According to a recent analysis by the College Board, the   Advanced degrees led to even higher earnings. Although there are certainly exceptions, bachelor’s degree holders tend to make more money and are more economically resilient in the face of uncertainty. In 2024, . For most, going to college—regardless of major—permits flexibility, provides a certain insurance against risk, and will result in higher lifetime earnings.

Highest Paying College Majors – Final Thoughts

The journey to a college degree comes with a price tag, so it’s important to make informed financial decisions, especially when the job market can be unpredictable. While choosing to study one of the highest-paying majors can certainly set you up for success, none of them will automatically punch your ticket to a lucrative job—you’ll still need to make sound choices and apply yourself along the way.  If you don’t pick one of the highest-paying college majors, you not condemned to a life of penury. Remember that every ranking leaves plenty unsaid—and that it’s always possible to buck the trend.

Highest Paying College Majors – Additional Resources

Looking for more? You may wish check out the following blogs:

• Hardest College Majors
• Easiest College Majors
• Graduate Earnings by College