robb3d via flickr
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a college major.
Salary potential is one of them.
While this shouldn't be the sole thing that attracts you to a major, it is helpful to know which degrees pay off the fastest.
"For new grads drowning in student loans and sky-high rents, a solid paycheck can be critical during the first few years in the real world," writes Glassdoor's Allison Berry.
Glassdoor recently analyzed hundreds of thousands of résumés and corresponding salary reports to determine which majors pay the most during the first five years out of college.
"If college students want to land a high-paying job after graduation, they should strongly consider majoring in science, technology, engineering, or math," says Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor's chief economist, in a press release. "STEM majors are in demand by the technology and health industries, which offer higher paying jobs that are better protected from competition or automation."
Here are the 50 highest-paying college majors, according to Glassdoor's research:
50. Biology
Median base salary: $41,250
Popular entry-level jobs: lab assistant, paramedic, tutor
49. Social work
Median base salary: $41,656
Popular entry-level jobs: social worker, mental health counselor, camp counselor
48. Healthcare administration
Median base salary: $42,000
Popular entry-level jobs: medical assistant, file clerk, office manager
47. Sociology
Median base salary: $42,000
Popular entry-level jobs: HR assistant, account manager, administrative assistant
46. Psychology
Median base salary: $42,000
Popular entry-level jobs: case manager, mental health counselor, sales associate
45. Liberal arts
Median base salary: $42,500
Popular entry-level jobs: sales manager, receptionist, teacher
44. Biochemistry
Median base salary: $42,672
Popular entry-level jobs: research technician, pharmacy technician, chemist
43. Hospitality management
Median base salary: $44,000
Popular entry-level jobs: food and beverage manager, front desk manager, housekeeping manager
42. Anthropology
Median base salary: $43,000
Popular entry-level jobs: project coordinator, research assistant, administrative assistant
41. Education
Median base salary: $43,000
Popular entry-level jobs: special education teacher, elementary school teacher, language teacher
40. Sports management
Median base salary: $43,156
Popular entry-level jobs: personal trainer, sales associate, production assistant
39. Public relations
Median base salary: $43,156
Popular entry-level jobs: public relations coordinator, account executive, event planner
38. Film studies
Median base salary: $44,000
Popular entry-level jobs: production coordinator, video editor, proposal manager
37. Music
Median base salary: $44,000
Popular entry-level jobs: music teacher, audio engineer, media sales associate
36. Chemistry
Median base salary: $44,000
Popular entry-level jobs: pharmacy technician, chemist, laboratory technician
35. Interior design
Median base salary: $44,098
Popular entry-level jobs: interior designer, visual merchandiser, drafter
34. Communications
Median base salary: $44,190
Popular entry-level jobs: public relations coordinator, journalist, content marketing manager
33. Spanish
Median base salary: $44,256
Popular entry-level jobs: Spanish teacher, translator, project manager
32. Social science
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: HR assistant, management consultant, visual manager
31. Environmental science
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: environmental scientist, laboratory technician, safety manager
30. Philosophy
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: teaching assistant, writer, consultant
29. Advertising
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: account executive, marketing analyst, media planner
28. Journalism
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: reporter, editor, public relations coordinator
27. Human resources
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: HR coordinator, corporate recruiter, HR analyst
26. History
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: research assistant, history teacher, teaching assistant
25. Political science
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: law clerk, paralegal, consultant
24. English
Median base salary: $45,000
Popular entry-level jobs: English teacher, editor, copywriter
23. Marketing
Median base salary: $45,475
Popular entry-level jobs: marketing coordinator, account executive, marketing analyst
22. Graphic design
Median base salary: $45,846
Popular entry-level jobs: graphic designer, web designer, art manager
21. International relations
Median base salary: $45,880
Popular entry-level jobs: marketing associate, English teacher, research assistant
20. Business
Median base salary: $47,850
Popular entry-level jobs: account manager, marketing manager, market research analyst
19. Fashion design
Median base salary: $50,000
Popular entry-level jobs: fashion designer, textile designer, stylist
18. Architecture
Median base salary: $50,000
Popular entry-level jobs: architect, CAD designer, project designer
17. Biotechnology
Median base salary: $50,000
Popular entry-level jobs: laboratory technician, quality control analyst, research associate
16. Physics
Median base salary: $50,000
Popular entry-level jobs: physicist, research fellow, computer programmer
15. Economics
Median base salary: $52,000
Popular entry-level jobs: financial analyst, management analyst, accountant
14. Accounting
Median base salary: $52,000
Popular entry-level jobs: accountant, auditor, financial analyst
13. Biomedical engineering
Median base salary: $52,814
Popular entry-level jobs: biomedical engineer, service engineer, clinical research associate
12. Mathematics
Median base salary: 54,018
Popular entry-level jobs: math teacher, software engineer, data analyst
11. Finance
Median base salary: $54,900
Popular entry-level jobs: financial analyst, investment banking analyst, accountant
10. Management information systems
Median base salary: $58,000
Popular entry-level jobs: network administrator, help desk analyst, business analyst
9. Nursing
Median base salary: $58,928
Popular entry-level jobs: registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, case manager
8. Statistics
Median base salary: $60,000
Popular entry-level jobs: data analyst, statistician, data scientist
7. Civil engineering
Median base salary: $61,500
Popular entry-level jobs: civil engineer, structural engineer, field engineer
6. Information technology
Median base salary: $64,008
Popular entry-level jobs: programmer analyst, technical support, systems engineer
5. Industrial engineering
Median base salary: $64,381
Popular entry-level jobs: industrial engineer, quality engineer, production planner
4. Chemical engineering
Median base salary: $65,000
Popular entry-level jobs: chemical engineer, process engineer, project engineer
3. Mechanical engineering
Median base salary: $68,000
Popular entry-level jobs: mechanical engineer, design engineer, project engineer
2. Electrical engineering
Median base salary: $68,438
Popular entry-level jobs: electrical engineer, systems engineer, software developer
1. Computer science
Median base salary: $70,000
Popular entry-level jobs: software engineer, systems engineer, web developer
Read more about the methodology here.
