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Forbes Ranks College Majors by Average Starting Salary

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 2:36pm by SavvySugar
3,735 Views - 32 comments

Maybe your degree doesn't hold the title of most lucrative college major, but that hardly means all your four years got you was a meager paycheck.

Forbes gathered median salary information from PayScale.com for 20 popular majors, and while all jobs were included in the study anyone with an advanced degree was not part of it. PayScale's director of quantitative analysis commented that those with majors in economics, finance, and math have remarkable earning potential that can be realized with some experience.

  1. Computer Engineering
  2. Economics
  3. Electrical Engineering
  4. Computer Science
  5. Mechanical Engineering
  6. Finance
  7. Mathematics
  8. Civil Engineering
  9. Political Science
  10. Marketing

There are ten more on the list so just read more.

  1. Accounting
  2. History
  3. Business Management
  4. Communications
  5. English
  6. Biology
  7. Sociology
  8. Graphic Design
  9. Psychology
  10. Criminal Justice

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32 Comments Add a Comment

  • JennaV's picture
    JennaV
    1

    Psychology is at the bottom of the barrel. No surprise there

    26 weeks 21 hours ago Report Comment
  • tee0206's picture
    tee0206
    2

    Very interesting. I expected Supply Chain Management to be on there, but realized that's not exactly a "popular" major. My college classmates who went into SCM fields averaged at about $48,000 for their first jobs right out of undergrad. Somehow, I double majored in SCM and marketing with a minor in sociology and ended up working in accounting/finance.

    26 weeks 20 hours ago Report Comment
  • MeggyPoodles's picture
    MeggyPoodles
    4

    english majors ftw!!!

    I SOOOO want to rub this in my roomate's face, because she CONSTANTLY talks about how much more money shes going to be making than me. I don't see her major on this list!! yaay me. Instead I'll just smile to myself. Smiling

    26 weeks 19 hours ago Report Comment
  • MeggyPoodles's picture
    MeggyPoodles
    5

    EW as I mention that I am an english major and then spell ROOMMATE wrong.

    LOL.

    26 weeks 19 hours ago Report Comment
  • Meike's picture
    Meike
    6

    3. Electrical Engineering
    4. Computer Science
    18. Graphic Design

    Smiling

    26 weeks 19 hours ago Report Comment
  • classysassy's picture
    classysassy
    8

    i'm currently an economics major. hmmm will see once i graduate in a few.

    26 weeks 17 hours ago Report Comment
  • bluebird's picture
    bluebird
    9

    Well... maybe I'll get my master's in Econ... it's a bit too late to change my undergrad work : (

    26 weeks 16 hours ago Report Comment
  • wednesday_adams's picture
    wednesday_adams
    10

    BIG surprise that good ol' philosophy isn't mentioned. I'll just have to keep living off of my rocket scientist husband.

    26 weeks 16 hours ago Report Comment
  • supercoolnat's picture
    supercoolnat
    12

    I guess Chemical Engineering wasn't popular enough to make it onto their list of 20 majors, but it's definitely a lucrative major (or at least it was 5 years ago when I graduated). Number-wise, it's definitely up there with the other engineering majors they mentioned, possibly even higher.

    26 weeks 8 hours ago Report Comment
  • jspeed's picture
    jspeed
    17

    Hooray for English majors! We aren't idiots for choosing that field. Almost every industry needs writers - it is a very flexible degree with a diverse array of career options.

    26 weeks 7 hours ago Report Comment
  • jessy777's picture
    jessy777
    18

    History at 12? I wonder if most go into the legal profession, like I intend to do. It will pay of immediately when I start teaching this spring and continue as I obtain my law degree. My boyfriend is an Accountant so he will be happy to know he is ahead of me.

    26 weeks 6 hours ago Report Comment
  • mcreverie's picture
    mcreverie
    19

    im an english major and dont make too much...hmm, what could i be doing wrong haha

    26 weeks 6 hours ago Report Comment
  • hmweis1's picture
    hmweis1
    20

    I majored in Economics and let's just say my salary doesn't scream #2.

    26 weeks 6 hours ago Report Comment
  • tiff58's picture
    tiff58
    22

    I'm supply chain, too, tee! Yeah, not really a popular major, so I'm sure that's why it isn't on here. If I had had some sense, I'd have double majored in supply chain and MIS.

    26 weeks 5 hours ago Report Comment
  • raieven's picture
    raieven
    23

    Humanities major representing. Its like a cross between English and History.

    26 weeks 5 hours ago Report Comment
  • lisseth0221's picture
    lisseth0221
    26

    I'm a Business Mgt. major. It's not my favorite (I wish I would have stuck with English or Political Science) but at least it's on the list!

    26 weeks 5 hours ago Report Comment
  • geebers's picture
    geebers
    27

    I was a former computer science major -then international studies (not on list) and now in health policy and management (masters). The article DID say they didnt focus on public degrees only private so I guess I cant compare.

    26 weeks 4 hours ago Report Comment
  • hmcmcd's picture
    hmcmcd
    28

    hmm, well, I was a political science major and I am not making a top ten salary...where are the jobs they are talking about??

    25 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • ivegotspunk's picture
    ivegotspunk
    30

    majoring in psychology was probably one of the biggest mistakes ive made. i dont even use any of the knowledge in my work now. Shouldve went into engineering or business!

    25 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • jian9007's picture
    jian9007
    31

    I originally double majored in Accounting and Finance and spent several years in banking operations management but the job prospects are far and few between now. When the work is there it pays well (six figures plus and more at the VP level and above) but finding those jobs are tough right now. To that end I currently am one semester away from receiving my degree in criminal justice (with a focus on criminal law)so at least I will have 3 things on the list. However, with the way the economy is going, who knows which fields will be lucrative in the coming years.

    25 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Jetsfan's picture
    Jetsfan
    32

    Wanna hear something funny I graduated with a degree in criminal justice which is on the list...I work at Abercrombie and Fitch as a manager thanks Bush..............

    20 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment

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