What Degree Makes the Most Money? (2024)

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Discover what degree makes the most money by learning about degree types and their salaries.

What Degree Makes the Most Money? (1)

There are many different reasons to get a degree, and a big one tends to be higher earning potential. The good news is that any degree beyond a high school diploma can increase how much you earn and lower your chances of unemployment [1]. That being said, certain college majors and areas of study may lead to more lucrative—and high-paying—career opportunities than others.

Discover more about which degrees make the most money both by level and subject matter.

Which degrees make the most money?

At the undergraduate level, the degrees that make the most money happen to align with the most popular majors, such as business and computer science, so researching those subjects can be a good place to start. Or you can look through our list of highest paying bachelor’s degree jobs.

The average entry-level salary in the US is $49,532, though you’ll likely find that varies from state-to-state, with certain states—like New York and California—paying higher than others [2, 3]. Below, we’ve pulled together six majors that tend to pay well over the average salary and have strong career trajectories.

6 college majors that pay over $75,000

The college majors below can lead to high-paying roles in the field.

1. Aerospace engineering

An engineering degree can lead to several high-paying opportunities, with aerospace engineering being one such path. Aerospace engineering often involves designing and developing machines used in aviation and space, such as aircrafts, spacecrafts, missiles, and satellites.

To earn your bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, you will need strong math skills and a general understanding of computer programming, chemistry, and physics, which your program will build upon. During your aerospace engineering program, you’ll learn about thermodynamics, aerodynamics, gas dynamics, aerospace structures, propulsion, and orbital mechanics. Aerospace engineers earn a median annual salary of $130,720, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [4].

2. Business administration

Majoring in business administration can be a worthwhile choice when you’re interested in a wider variety of career options, such as those in marketing, operations, or even entrepreneurship.

To earn your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), you’ll take foundational courses in business, such as business ethics, statistics, micro- and macroeconomics, marketing principles, and finance. You may then have the option of specializing in an area of business, such as finance, marketing, or human relations.

There are many different business and financial occupations to consider with this bachelor’s degree that pay over $75,000, including project management specialists, management analysts, and accountants [5].

3. Cloud computing

Cloud computing involves the delivery of hosted services over the internet, such as databases, networking, software, and cloud storage.

A bachelor's degree in computer science or a bachelor’s in information technology (with a concentration in cloud computing) provides knowledge and skills in programming languages, database management, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud technologies, which can lead to a career as a cloud administrator, cloud engineer, or cloud architect. A network administrator has a median annual salary of $95,360, according to BLS [6].

4. Electrical engineering

As an electrical engineer, you’ll design and develop electrical equipment and systems, such as automobile antennas, cell phone circuit boards, and electrical power grids.

A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering requires advanced math skills, knowledge of chemistry and physics, and good technical writing skills. While getting your electrical engineering degree, you'll typically learn the fundamentals of electricity and engineering during your first two years and take technical electives based on your specific areas of interest throughout the last two years. Electrical engineers earn a median salary of $109,010 per year, according to the BLS [7].

5. Information security

Information security involves designing and implementing methods for maintaining the security of computer information systems and data. Coursework for this bachelor's degree includes an introduction to information systems, cybersecurity fundamentals, the study of cybercrime, computer network maintenance, concepts of business databases, and more.

This degree prepares you for numerous jobs, including information systems manager, network architect, and information security analyst. According to the BLS, information security analysts earn a median annual salary of $120,360 [8].

Learn more: Do I Need an Information Technology Degree?

6. Nursing

Nursing is a career with a number of specialty areas that can lead to high-paying salaries and career longevity given how in demand nurses are and will continue to be.

Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will include taking biology, chemistry, and general health classes, and then completing coursework that prepares you to specialize in an area, such as mental health, community health, geriatric nursing, or oncology. A BSN can prepare you for a nursing career or provide the foundation to go on and earn an advanced degree in nursing.

Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $86,070, according to BLS [9], and often earn more with increased experience and education.

Degrees that make the most money by level

Each level of degree comes with the potential for higher earning power. For instance, while an associate degree holder tends to earn a median annual salary of $55,016, a bachelor’s degree holder earns a median annual salary of $77,636 [1].

If you’re interested in which kind of degree makes the most money, it’s important not only to find an area that’s meaningful to you, but to consider what level of education may be beneficial to your career.

  • Associate degrees: An associate degree typically takes two years to earn and tends to be available in a number of professional, in-demand areas, such as nursing, computer science, psychology, criminal justice, and accounting. You can also earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), which focuses on more technical careers so you can enter the workforce directly after graduation. Associate degree holders earn a median annual salary of $55,016, according to the BLS [1].

  • Bachelor’s degrees: A bachelor’s degree takes closer to four to six years to earn these days (compared to the standard three to four once associated with the degree), but it’s a common requirement for many entry-level career options. What you major in will determine the type of degree you earn: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) tend to be the most common. Per the BLS, bachelor's degree holders earn a median annual salary of $77,636 [1].

  • Master’s degrees: A master's degree typically takes about two or three years to earn, depending on what you study, and can be useful if you’re looking to advance in your career or hold a managerial role. Like a bachelor's, you can get a Master of Arts (MA), a Master of Science (MS), a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or more niched degrees, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Master's degree holders earn a median annual salary of $90,324, according to BLS [1]. And MBA degree holders tend to command even higher salaries.

  • Professional degrees: A professional degree typically takes three or more years to earn following a bachelor's. This degree prepares you to work in a profession like law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or pharmaceuticals. Professional degree holders earn a median annual salary of $114,712 [1].

  • Doctorate degrees: A doctorate degree also takes five or more years to earn. This degree represents the highest level of academic achievement you can attain in a non-professional subject, and common degrees awarded include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), and Doctor of Education (EdD). Doctorate holders earn a median annual salary $109,668 [1].

Earn your degree through Coursera

Find flexible and affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs available through Coursera. Degrees are available by level and in some of the top fields, including computer science, information technology, data science, business administration, and more.

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1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Education Pays, https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

2. Glassdoor. “How much does an Entry-Level make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/entry-level-salary-SRCH_KO0,11.htm.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

3. Yahoo. “What’s the Entry-Level Salary in Every State? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/entry-level-salary-every-state-140043966.html.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Aerospace Engineers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/aerospace-engineers.htm." Accessed July 17, 2024.

5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Business and Financial Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Network and Computer Systems Administrator, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

7. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electrical and Electronics Engineers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm." Accessed July 17, 2024.

8. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm." Accessed July 17, 2024.

9. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Registered Nurses, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm.” Accessed July 17, 2024.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

What Degree Makes the Most Money? (2024)

FAQs

What degree would make the most money? ›

College majors that pay the most right after college
  • Computer engineering. $80,000.
  • Chemical engineering. $79,000.
  • Computer science. $78,000.
  • Aerospace engineering. $74,000.
  • Electrical engineering. $72,000.
  • Industrial engineering. $71,000.
  • Mechanical engineering. $70,000.
Mar 14, 2024

Which degree will earn you the most money? ›

Table of Contents
  • The top 11 degrees with the highest starting salaries in the UK.
  • Dentistry.
  • Medicine.
  • Veterinary Medicine.
  • Economics.
  • General Engineering.
  • Mathematics.
  • Physics & Astronomy.
Jun 27, 2024

How to make $100,000 a year with no degree? ›

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.
  1. Technology Sales Manager. Getty Images / BartekSzewczyk. ...
  2. Computer and Information Systems Manager. ...
  3. Fire chief. ...
  4. Product Manager. ...
  5. Professional Sports Referee. ...
  6. Senior Real Estate Manager. ...
  7. Court Reporter/Typist. ...
  8. Executive Assistant.
Feb 20, 2024

What is the easiest degree that makes the most money? ›

Top 15 Quick Degrees That Pay Well
  1. Business Administration. A bachelor of business administration is one of the most popular undergraduate degrees. ...
  2. Communications. ...
  3. Criminal Justice. ...
  4. English. ...
  5. Finance. ...
  6. Healthcare Administration. ...
  7. History. ...
  8. Human Resources.

Which degree is best for making money? ›

What Are the Highest-Paying Bachelor's Degrees?
  1. Chemical Engineering. If you're interested in chemistry, chemical engineering could be the career for you. ...
  2. Computer Engineering. ...
  3. Aerospace Engineering. ...
  4. Electrical Engineering. ...
  5. Mechanical Engineering. ...
  6. Computer Science. ...
  7. Finance. ...
  8. Economics.
Jun 13, 2024

What is the most useful degree? ›

Fields like Computer Science, Healthcare, Engineering, and Business Management often top the list due to their high demand in the job market, strong salary potential, and broad applicability across industries.

What degree is most employable? ›

They crunched the data to reveal the employment rate and the graduate salary associated with it. Interestingly the degrees that will give you the best chance of being employed quickly are medicine and dentistry, education and veterinary science.

What major makes you rich? ›

Learning which majors make the most money may help you determine your field of study. STEM majors, those in math, technology, engineering and science are consistently at or near the top of the list.

What is the most valuable degree? ›

A recent study published in the American Educational Research Journal found that engineering and computer science majors provide the highest returns in lifetime earnings, followed by business, health, and math and science majors.

What is the highest paying job with little schooling? ›

What Is the Highest-Paying Job Without a Degree?
  • Commercial Pilots: $121,430.
  • Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: $94,560.
  • First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $91,090.
  • Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers: $85,950.
  • Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: $84,990.

What is the highest paid job without experience? ›

24 high-paying jobs that don't require a degree or experience
  1. Elevator technician. ...
  2. Performer. ...
  3. Copywriter. ...
  4. Police officer. ...
  5. Equipment operator. ...
  6. HVAC technician. ...
  7. Claims adjuster. ...
  8. Plumber.
Jul 14, 2024

What is the highest paying no degree job? ›

Here are the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree this year:
  1. Airline and commercial pilot. ...
  2. Information security analyst. ...
  3. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer. ...
  4. Special effects artist and animator. ...
  5. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager. ...
  6. First-line supervisors of police and detective.
Jun 4, 2024

What major is the least stressful? ›

7 Least Stressful College Degrees That Can Help You Earn Well
  1. COMPUTER SCIENCE. Education degrees offer rewarding careers in teaching and counseling, providing opportunities to positively impact students' lives with manageable stress.
  2. EDUCATION: ...
  3. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: ...
  4. LIBRARY SCIENCE: ...
  5. STATISTICS: ...
  6. ACCOUNTING: ...
  7. NUTRITION:
May 10, 2024

What is the fastest degree to earn? ›

What is the easiest degree to get in 2 years?
  1. Accounting. If numbers are your thing, a degree in accounting could be just what you're looking for. ...
  2. Criminal Justice. ...
  3. Early Childhood Education. ...
  4. General Studies. ...
  5. Healthcare Administration. ...
  6. Computer Information Systems. ...
  7. Marketing. ...
  8. Psychology.
Apr 16, 2024

What major pays the most? ›

The highest-paying major is engineering, which saw a 3.1% increase in projected earnings since 2023. Engineers design and build products, structures and technology systems. According to the BLS, architecture and engineering occupations earned a median annual salary of $83,700 as of 2022.

Which degree pays the most in the world? ›

The highest-paying engineering degrees are in chemical, computer,and aerospace engineering.
  • Aeronautical Engineering: ...
  • Medicine. ...
  • Law. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Finance. ...
  • Cyber Security. ...
  • Civil Engineering. ...
  • Marketing. Marketing is one of the most lucrative degrees in the world.
Jul 20, 2024

What degree is the richest? ›

Top 7 degrees that make the most millionaires
  • Engineering.
  • Economics/Finance.
  • Politics.
  • Mathematics.
  • Computer Science.
  • Law.
  • MBA.
Jul 14, 2024

What degree is highest in demand? ›

Some of the most in-demand majors include:
  1. Nursing. Nurses care for ill or injured patients and guide them through the recovery process. ...
  2. Culinary arts. ...
  3. Computer science. ...
  4. Business administration. ...
  5. Accounting. ...
  6. Physical therapy. ...
  7. Medical assisting. ...
  8. Mathematics and statistics.
Jul 30, 2024

How to make 100k out of college? ›

Jobs that pay six figure salaries and require only a bachelor's degree
  1. Construction managers: $101,480.
  2. Medical and health services managers: $104,830.
  3. Art directors: $105,180.
  4. Actuaries: $113,990.
  5. Computer network architects: $126,900.
  6. Medical dosimetrists: $128,970.
  7. Human resources managers: $130,000.
Feb 8, 2024

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