When it comes to going to school, you want to make sure the degree you’re investing in will pay dividends for years to come.
We’re in an age when there’s a real disconnect between skill sets and job openings. That’s created a lot of demand in some high-paying fields.
Many of the job openings that are going unfilled require continual training and new skills. STEM jobs — which involve the fields of science, technology, engineering and math — are particularly hot right now.
So if you’re still in your degree-seeking days, consider these fields below. Glassdoor took a look at which majors pay the most during the first five years out of college. You’ll get a sense of which fields of study are worth the time and money…
Top 50 highest-paying college majors during the first 5 years out of school
| Major | Median base salary |
| Computer Science | $70,000 |
| Electrical Engineering | $68,438 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $65,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $64,381 |
| Information Technology | $64,008 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,500 |
| Statistics | $60,000 |
| Nursing | $58,928 |
| Management Information Systems | $58,000 |
| Finance | $54,900 |
| Mathematics | $54,018 |
| Biomedical Engineering | $52,814 |
| Accounting | $52,000 |
| Economics | $52,000 |
| Physics | $50,000 |
| Biotechnology | $50,000 |
| Architecture | $50,000 |
| Fashion Design | $50,000 |
| Business | $47,850 |
| International Relations | $45,880 |
| Graphic Design | $45,846 |
| Marketing | $45,475 |
| English | $45,000 |
| Political Science | $45,000 |
| History | $45,000 |
| Human Resources | $45,000 |
| Journalism | $45,000 |
| Advertising | $45,000 |
| Philosophy | $45,000 |
| Environmental Science | $45,000 |
| Social Science | $45,000 |
| Spanish | $44,256 |
| Communications | $44,190 |
| Interior Design | $44,098 |
| Chemistry | $44,000 |
| Music | $44,000 |
| Film Studies | $44,000 |
| Public Relations | $43,156 |
| Sports Management | $43,156 |
| Education | $43,000 |
| Anthropology | $43,000 |
| Hospitality Management | $42,734 |
| Biochemistry | $42,672 |
| Liberal Arts | $42,500 |
| Psychology | $42,000 |
| Sociology | $42,000 |
| Health Care Administration | $42,000 |
| Social Work | $41,656 |
| Biology | $41,250 |
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