If you’re thinking about college for the first time, or thinking about furthering your college education, it literally pays to consider some college degrees that have top salaries.
Associate’s Degrees
An associate’s degree is a great way to jumpstart your career or a career change. In just two years, you can be earning a living. Plus, many of the college credits are transferrable and can be used toward a Bachelor’s Degree. Here are the top paying jobs requiring an associate’s degree and their average annual salaries according to Payscale.com:
- Dental Hygienist - $57,148
- Registered Nurse (RN) - $55,276
- Web Designer - $48,785
- Computer Support Specialist - $46,111
- Physical Therapist Assistant- $46,111
- Camera Operator (TV/Film) - $42,558
- Surveying or Mapping Technician - $42,104
- Executive or Administrative Assistant - $37,669
- Veterinary Technician - $33,363
Bachelor’s Degrees
For 2011 graduates, engineering is the top paying major according to NACE. In fact 7 of the 10 majors are engineering related. According to NACE, here are the top 10 paying majors and their average starting salaries:
- Chemical Engineering - $66,886
- Computer Science - $63,017
- Mechanical Engineering - $60,739
- Electrical/Electronics & Communications Engineering - $60,646
- Computer Engineering - $60,112
- Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering - $58,549
- Systems Engineering - $57,497
- Engineering Technology - $57,176
- Information Sciences & Systems - $56,868
- Business Systems Networking/Telecommunications $56,808
Payscale.com also identified these entry-level jobs, some requiring Bachelor’s Degrees, with top paying salaries and promising career potential:
- Investment Banking Analyst - $73,000
- Assistant Actuarial Analyst (Insurance) - $54,000
- Junior Tax Associate - $53,000
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative - $51,000
- Auditor - $49,000
- Wind Turbine Technician - $47,000
- Health Care Research Analyst - $47,000
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Analyst - $44,000
- Forensic DNA Analyst - $41,000
- Law Research Associate - $40,000
Master’s Degrees
According to Forbes magazine with data from Payscale.com and the BLS.gov, they found 10 high-paying careers that require at least a Master’s Degree, which also provide excellent career potential. Here are the top 10 top paying Master’s Degree jobs and their mid-career salaries:
- Economics - $116,000
- Physics - $115,000
- Computer Science - $109,000
- Physician Assistant - $101,000
- Civil Engineering - $96,400
- Mathematics - $87,100
- Political Science - $87,100
- Nursing - $85,500
- Environment Science - $84,300
- Occupational Therapy - $78,000
