How much a degree pays depends less on the diploma than on the career it leads to. The tables below show the highest-paying occupations commonly associated with 15 popular college majors, ranked by median annual wage from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every figure is a national median for the occupation, not a starting salary or a guarantee.
All wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 . Occupation-to-major mappings reflect common career paths; individual outcomes vary by location, experience, employer, and credential level. Ready to act on this? Compare the best online degrees and browse accredited online colleges .
Free to use: the chart below is embeddable and the full dataset is available as a downloadable CSV . Please credit bestonlinecollege.org and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At a glance: top-paying career by major Highest-paying career by major (median annual wage) Highest-paying career by major -- median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) Nursing $236,590 Psychology $193,950 Computer Science $175,140 Technology $175,140 Cybersecurity $175,140 Engineering $171,270 Business Administration $166,570 Accounting $166,570 Criminal Justice $159,670 Healthcare $123,860 Healthcare Administration $123,860 Education $105,870 Liberal Arts $101,860 Social Work $80,390 Counseling $80,390 Majors ranked by top-paying career Rank Major Highest-paying career Median annual wage 1 Nursing Nurse Anesthetist $236,590 2 Psychology Industrial-Organizational Psychologist $193,950 3 Computer Science Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 4 Technology Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 5 Cybersecurity Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 6 Engineering Architectural and Engineering Manager $171,270 7 Business Administration Financial Manager $166,570 8 Accounting Financial Manager $166,570 9 Criminal Justice Attorney $159,670 10 Healthcare Medical and Health Services Manager $123,860 11 Healthcare Administration Medical and Health Services Manager $123,860 12 Education Education Administrator, K-12 $105,870 13 Liberal Arts Management Analyst $101,860 14 Social Work Social and Community Service Manager $80,390 15 Counseling Social and Community Service Manager $80,390
Median annual wages, BLS OEWS (May 2025). “Highest-paying career” is the top-earning occupation among those commonly entered with each major.
Highest-paying careers by major Nursing Career Median annual wage Nurse Anesthetist $236,590 Nurse Midwife $134,040 Nurse Practitioner $132,300 Registered Nurse $97,550 Licensed Practical Nurse $64,400 Nursing Assistant $42,260
Psychology Career Median annual wage Industrial-Organizational Psychologist $193,950 Clinical and Counseling Psychologist $100,580 School Psychologist $95,990 Healthcare Social Worker $67,880 Marriage and Family Therapist $66,940 Educational and Career Counselor $64,330 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker $60,280 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor $59,350
Computer Science Career Median annual wage Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 Database Architect $139,500 Software Developer $135,980 Computer Network Architect $134,050 Information Security Analyst $129,180 Computer Systems Analyst $105,850 Database Administrator $104,620 Web and Digital Interface Designer $104,000 Web Developer $92,650 Computer Network Support Specialist $76,220 Computer User Support Specialist $61,860
Technology Career Median annual wage Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 Software Developer $135,980 Computer Network Architect $134,050 Information Security Analyst $129,180 Network and Computer Systems Administrator $99,130 Web Developer $92,650 Computer Network Support Specialist $76,220 Computer User Support Specialist $61,860
Cybersecurity Career Median annual wage Computer and Information Systems Manager $175,140 Computer Network Architect $134,050 Information Security Analyst $129,180 Computer Systems Analyst $105,850 Network and Computer Systems Administrator $99,130 Computer Network Support Specialist $76,220 Computer User Support Specialist $61,860
Engineering Career Median annual wage Architectural and Engineering Manager $171,270 Aerospace Engineer $134,960 Chemical Engineer $125,040 Electrical Engineer $120,630 Biomedical Engineer $109,370 Environmental Engineer $107,110 Mechanical Engineer $104,110 Civil Engineer $100,840
Business Administration Career Median annual wage Financial Manager $166,570 Human Resources Manager $149,280 Administrative Services Manager $114,130 General and Operations Manager $105,770 Project Management Specialist $102,320 Management Analyst $101,860 Accountant or Auditor $83,680 Office and Administrative Support Supervisor $69,500 Training and Development Specialist $69,280
Accounting Career Median annual wage Financial Manager $166,570 Financial Analyst $102,740 Budget Analyst $91,640 Accountant and Auditor $83,680 Tax Examiner and Collector $62,370 Tax Preparer $54,920 Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk $50,670
Criminal Justice Career Median annual wage Attorney $159,670 Judge or Magistrate $153,990 Information Security Analyst $129,180 Police Supervisor $106,040 Detective or Criminal Investigator $93,790 Police or Sheriff’s Patrol Officer $76,210 Forensic Science Technician $72,060 Probation Officer $66,270 Paralegal or Legal Assistant $62,890 Correctional Officer $58,940
Healthcare Career Median annual wage Medical and Health Services Manager $123,860 Epidemiologist $87,220 Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar $68,020 Healthcare Social Worker $67,880 Medical Records Specialist $51,140 Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant $45,930
Healthcare Administration Career Median annual wage Medical and Health Services Manager $123,860 Administrative Services Manager $114,130 Compliance Officer $80,730 Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar $68,020 Medical Records Specialist $51,140 Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant $45,930
Education Career Median annual wage Education Administrator, K-12 $105,870 Education Administrator, Postsecondary $104,590 Education Teacher, Postsecondary $75,350 Secondary School Teacher $72,040 Middle School Teacher $64,370 Educational and Career Counselor $64,330 Elementary School Teacher $63,970 Tutor $43,350
Liberal Arts Career Median annual wage Management Analyst $101,860 Technical Writer $90,390 Editor $77,920 Human Resources Specialist $75,940 Public Relations Specialist $74,750 Training and Development Specialist $69,280 News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist $62,200
Social Work Career Median annual wage Social and Community Service Manager $80,390 Social Worker, All Other $71,900 Healthcare Social Worker $67,880 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker $60,280 Child, Family, and School Social Worker $59,550 Community Health Worker $51,850 Social and Human Service Assistant $45,930
Counseling Career Median annual wage Social and Community Service Manager $80,390 Marriage and Family Therapist $66,940 Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor $64,330 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor $59,350 Counselor, All Other $50,860 Rehabilitation Counselor $46,850
How to read this data Median annual wage means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less (BLS OEWS, May 2025).Figures are national medians ; pay varies widely by state and metro area, and many of these roles require experience or graduate study. Occupations are grouped by the major most commonly associated with them; many careers are open to graduates of more than one field. Download the full dataset: highest-paying-careers-by-degree-2025.csv .Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 .
Next steps Use this data to choose a path, then compare schools. Start with our degree programs hub and the best accredited online colleges to find an accredited program in your field.
Salary should be one factor among many–alongside interests, cost, and accreditation–but knowing what each major typically pays helps you weigh a degree as an investment. Bookmark this page; we refresh it when the BLS releases new wage data.
