Top 25 College Majors with the Highest Salaries—Over Half Top $100K by Mid-Career

If you’re aiming to earn a good income right after college, choosing an engineering major is one of the most reliable options.

That’s because many of the top-earning college degrees are in engineering, according to new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The latest rankings are consistent with past years, which have repeatedly shown that engineering graduates earn some of the highest median salaries within five years of finishing college.

Computer engineering, chemical engineering, and computer science rank among the highest-paying majors, with graduates earning a median early-career salary of $100,000. In fact, all engineering disciplines featured in the study report median starting salaries exceeding $80,000.

Here’s a breakdown of the top-earning college majors for workers between the ages of 22 and 27.

 
Engineering graduates are highly sought after due to their strong mathematical abilities and technical knowledge—skills that are valuable across a variety of industries. As tech-driven fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity continue to grow, it’s no surprise that computer engineering majors rank among the highest earners.

Many top-paying majors offer consistently high returns over time. For full-time professionals between the ages of 35 and 45, engineering degrees often lead to six-figure salaries. Below is a look at how mid-career graduates rank by earnings.