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Staying in school has always been seen as the way to get ahead. Post-secondary
education, especially a university degree, is often the ticket to the big pay cheque but not all degrees are created equally when it comes to earning potential. Which programs lead to the best paying jobs? Check out our list of the top earning degrees. Words: 775
So says Ijeoma Ross in edited excerpts from her original article* 10 Top-earning Degrees as posted on www.yourmoney.ca. Ross points out that all figures are based on the latest PayScales survey of annual salaries comparing undergraduate degrees with the ranking based on mid-career median pay in U.S. dollars.
Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.FinancialArticleSummariesToday.com (A site for sore eyes and inquisitive minds) and www.munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!), has edited the article below for length and clarity – see Editor’s Note at the bottom of the page. This paragraph must be included in any article re-posting to avoid copyright infringement.
Ross goes on to list the Top 10, as follows:
1. Engineering
Mid-career salary: $157,000
Hands down, an engineering degree is the way to go for earning potential. There are 12 different types of engineering degrees in the top 20 earning degrees, including five of the top six. The degree that earns the most is petroleum engineering – working with oil and gas – at a median starting salary of $93,000 (ranks #1).
2. Applied mathematics
Mid-career salary: $101,000
As the name sounds, this is a branch of math that is applied to real world issues. It is not math for the intellectual challenge of it. It is using math to solve problems such as cutting costs through improved scheduling for airlines, making the production of biofuels economical or the most effective way to search a large database for two variables. The starting salary is $56,400 (ranks #2).
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3. Physics
Mid-career salary: $99,600
Closely related to both engineering and applied math, physics is the study of the interaction between matter and energy. One of the oldest academic subjects, physics includes everything from sub-atomic particles to entire galaxies. While Albert Einstein’s E=mc2 is perhaps the most famous advancement in physics, other developments are behind the creation of television and computers. The starting salary is about $50,700 (ranks #5).
4. Economics
Mid-career salary: $97,800
The most highly paid degree that is not a pure science. An undergraduate degree teaches you how to analyze data and behavior relating to financial transactions, supply, demand and work. An economics degree also helps develop clear thinking and writing skills making a graduate suitable for many analysts’ jobs including those relating to finance, investment, labour and policy. Starting salary is approximately $48,800 (ranks #8).
5. Computer science
Mid-career salary: $97,700
This is not about using a computer. A computer science degree teaches you the mathematical and theoretical background of computing. With a computer science degree, you can get a job as a software developer, an IT systems engineer or a web developer. As the world gets more digital, Comp. Science graduates are increasingly involved in solving our most complex problems. Starting salary is roughly $56,200 (ranks #3).
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6. Building Construction
Mid-career salary: $94,500
This degree is increasingly required for construction managers who oversee, plan, budget and manage construction projects. This degree includes courses in construction methods, cost estimating, financial management, site planning, building codes and project management. Although you may work for a large construction or development company, if you graduate with this degree you are more than likely going to be self-employed. Starting salary is $52, 900 (ranks #4).
7. Statistics
Mid-career salary: $92,900
A statistician is a person who looks at the similarities and differences between groups of measurements. You do this using the probability theory and other methods related to it. Although we often hear about business, crime or political statistics in the news, statisticians also work in many social, biological and physical sciences helping to provide the scientific background to many other fields. Median starting salary is $50,000 (ranks #7).
8. Finance
Mid-career salary: $91,500
This degree is about money. A degree in finance is the study of money and how to allocate resources to raise money for individuals or businesses. With this degree you can become an investor, personal financial consultant or an accountant. Your courses cover the laws of business, financial trading, international investing as well as micro and macroeconomic theory. Starting salary is about $47,500 (ranks #9).
9. Management Information Systems
Mid-career salary: $90,300
If information is power, these graduates are in charge. A degree in MIS teaches you how to create data systems so you can organize information. You study systems that analyze information relating to cost, personnel, business systems and management control. You also learn about data storage and security, system selection and personnel training. Starting salary is approximately $50,900 (ranks #6).
10. Mathematics
Mid-career salary: $88,300
To get a degree in math, you study calculus, algebra and statistics – in detail. In the job market, mathematicians are divided into theoretical and applied. Theoretical mathematicians develop new theories and look for relationships between existing math principles. These principles can be used to solve economic, research, business or engineering problems. Applied mathematicians use their skills to solve more practical problems. Starting salary is in the range of $46,400 (ranks #10).
Source of original article: *http://yourmoney.ca/Life_Events/career/Galleries/top-degrees
Editor’s Note: The above post may have been edited ([ ]), abridged (…), and reformatted (including the title, some sub-titles and bold/italics emphases) for the sake of clarity and brevity to ensure a fast and easy read. The article’s views and conclusions are unaltered and no personal comments have been included to maintain the integrity of the original article.
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