Median pay for each of the majors on the list is at least $6,500 less than the median salary for all majors, which is $46,500.
While teachers tend to have good job security, summers off and pensions, they're mostly paid by state governments, which haven't kept wages in line with inflation over the years. Likewise, theology majors often work in educational roles that don't typically pay well.
In contrast, the highest-paying majors are all in STEM fields, an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. STEM jobs are in high demand since they are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031. The 10 best-paid majors five years after college are mostly subsets of engineering. Chemical engineers took the No. 1 spot with a median salary of $75,000.
Later on in their careers, the pay disparity nearly doubles, as graduates with the lowest-paying majors earn median salaries less than $60,000 while graduates with the highest-paying majors make over six figures.
That’s why they become politicians and rip us off
Where does the always popular ‘Gender Studies’ fit in there? Must be lower than anything listed.
Which college degree do you need to work as a Starbucks barista?
But but but not enough women and bipocs in stem!
Geesh. And tradesmen are laughed at and spit on by the “educated.” My buddy pulls in $300 an hour as a plumber for high end houses. I make more as a fabricator /machinist than I ever did in my engineering profession. It isn’t even worth the time to go to college in those crap degrees.
These statistics are based on those who get an undergraduate degree only. If you major in English and then go to law school, you might do well, but you don’t count in the statistics.
**but a degree in theology results in the lowest payout**
That is because those called to preach have a higher calling not of this world.
I know a man who had a great job with a major retailing company and was making beaucoup of money!
He gave it all up to become a preacher in a small 40 member church because he felt he was called to that church.
And if you want to make money, go to a trade school! Welding, Carpentry, Electrician, Plumber, mechanic! Dirty work but it reeks of MONEY!
Just for the record, I learned at the school of Hard Knocks and did well learning almost all of this above.
I don’t see any oil drilling hands, electricians, plumbers, pipeline welders, HVAC techs, on the list....oh, wait..those aren’t prestigious degreed jobs...all those guys actually work at something beneficial to society. /s
“an hourly wage for full-time work, that comes out to just over $17 per hour”
i noticed our local Target offering $17.50/hour starting wages, and that’s WITHOUT Divinity degree ...
Even if one gets a degree in one of the more lucrative fields does not mean one will be able to secure a position in said field and potentially end up in a lower income job anyway.
If that happens, it has the potential to mean lower income mostly for life. Early career misfortunes tend to dictate perceptions among potential employers from that point forward.
So that (for example) a Starbuck's barista with a degree in women's studies is not included in the statistics.
Five years after graduation, 1985 geography graduates from North Carolina State averaged five million dollars income. There were 12 of them. One of them was Michael Jordan. Geography at NC State: The road to riches!
Theology should probably be removed. Virtually everyone I know with theology degrees is in full time ministry and knew going in that the degree was not for added income, but for added knowledge to help in their ministry.
The rest are completely expected.
my son has an mdiv and jean ordained pastor. Pay is not great but the benefit package is out of this world. 😃
Got my degree in Archaeology. It required heavy doses of science and history. Went an extra year to get teaching cert. Taught biological science along with geography, and history.
I started without a major. I enjoyed classes in philosophy but took classes in a variety of subjects. One economics professor threw out the script and talked about the money he was making. Perhaps that was a bit crass, but it was eye opening.
He taught at the university, but also consulted part time with large firms which were headquartered in the state. He said he taught because he enjoyed it, not because it paid well. I suspect he said the same thing to the head of the department.
My favorite philosophy professor had been in the seminary. I cautiously asked him what he was earning. He was kind enough to tell me.
The economics professor was earning twice as much from the school as the philosophy professor. From a competitive standpoint, the school had to pay enough to keep people from leaving. Each professor had alternatives. The economist proved that he could make good money working for industry. The philosopher could return to the seminary. Given the alternatives, it made sense that the school paid the economist more.
I stopped taking classes in philosophy.
I am a public school teacher, but didn’t arrive at that the traditional way through a college program/degree - I came out of the corporate world in manufacturing and high tech. Many teachers I meet that have gone through the college degree route have no/very little experience in handling kids or working with others. They also have virtually no experience in their field - and the kids know this and take advantage of it. The brainwashing and indoctrination of our kids is provided by brainwashed and indoctrinated teachers who were taught by brainwashed and indoctrinated colleges. Sad.
Salary https://www.salary.com should be a starting point before anyone goes to college.