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STEM majors top lists of highest-earning majors

August 28, 2015

Science, technology, engineering and math majors command the highest mid-career salaries for all levels of higher education, according to the 2015-16 College Salary Report released by PayScale.

The report found 25% of the 201 master’s level majors have mid-career median pay numbers above $100,000, and all those are STEM subjects.

For those with bachelor’s degrees, petroleum engineering majors netted the highest mid-career pay for at $168,000. For those with two-year associate degrees, management information systems majors reported the highest mid-career salaries.

The five graduate degrees with the highest salary potential, with mid-career pay, are:

  1. Petroleum engineering: $173,000
  2. Nurse anesthesia: $ 159,000
  3. Strategy: $148,000
  4. General and strategic management: $144,000
  5. Finance and real estate: $143,000

The five bachelor’s degrees with the highest salary potential, with mid-career pay, are:

  1. Petroleum engineering: $168,000
  2. Nuclear engineering: $121,000
  3. Actuarial mathematics: $119,000
  4. Chemical engineering: $118,000
  5. Electronics and communications engineering: $116,000

The associate’s degrees with the highest salary potential, with mid-career pay, are:

  1. Management information systems (MIS): $72,100
  2. Construction management: $71,200
  3. Economics: $71,000
  4. Electronics and communications: $69,600
  5. Mechanical engineering technology (MET): $69,600
  6. Dental hygiene: $68,700

The report included salary data for alumni of a total of 1,519 schools.