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Highest-Paying Careers for 15 College Majors (2025 BLS Data)
Salaries belong to occupations, not diplomas – what matters is the career a degree 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, an outcome of any particular program, or a guarantee.
View the data behind this chart
| Field of study | Median bachelor's earnings |
|---|---|
| Engineering | $83,792 |
| Cybersecurity | $83,558 |
| Computer Science | $78,628 |
| Accounting | $72,638 |
| Healthcare Administration | $58,982 |
| Business | $56,435 |
| Counseling | $51,434 |
| Social Work | $51,410 |
| Healthcare | $51,334 |
| Criminal Justice | $46,798 |
| Liberal Arts | $44,253 |
| Education | $42,489 |
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.
At a glance: top-paying career by major
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetist | $236,590 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $175,140 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $171,270 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 |
| Attorney | $159,670 |
| Lawyer | $159,670 |
| Judge or Magistrate | $153,990 |
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. *Requires graduate or professional study beyond the bachelor’s degree: nurse anesthetists need a graduate degree and CRNA certification, industrial-organizational psychologists typically need a master’s or doctorate, and attorneys need a JD and bar admission.
Highest-paying careers by major
Nursing
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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.
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.