Going for a college major you’re interested in requires balancing your abilities and interests and weighing the potential career option available for each program. While most college majors have a unique appeal to them, every single one has varying earning potential. So, understanding which one will allow you to have a lucrative career will enable you to decide which one you should choose. Stem majors, typically ones in healthcare, science, engineering, and technology, are at the top of the list of college majors with the highest earning potential.
While the highest-paying college majors do change with time, it is a no-brainer to do your due diligence and research your options before you decide to take such an important step. With that in mind, let us look at a few majors that will allow you to have a promising career after you complete your degree. So, without further ado, some of them are listed down below.
1. Social Work
Social workers dedicate their entire time to empower and help people through a rough time. In addition, they also advocate for individuals suffering from financial, emotional, and social issues that come forth after contracting illnesses and infectious diseases. That said, their efforts don’t stop there. In fact, they are also ever-present after a local tragedy or disaster strikes, helping communities and the people within them.
In the end, social workers are compassionate, hardworking, and fearless people. They show empathy towards others, putting the comfort of others before theirs. In order to become one, you need to research your degree options. For instance, you can enroll in an MSW online no GRE required degree program and become a social worker while skipping the GRE examination entirely. That said, according to the BLS, the average salary of a social worker is around 51,760 dollars per year.
2. Nursing
Healthcare is amongst the fastest-growing field, with a significant skills gap, with one point seven openings per healthcare worker for the job title of a nurse. Moreover, research shows that the nursing profession is among the few not declining because of technological innovation.
As part of their post major studies, nurses have to take classes in chronic health assessment, biostatistics, pharmacology, and health promotion. They also have to participate in clinical rotation and work with real-life patients while physicians and other healthcare professionals monitor their progress. They also have to run and practice simulation labs that provide a secure environment to hone their skills and techniques. Typically, tons of nursing education programs are available these days, with everyone having their own benefits and earning potential. For instance, the average salary of a registered nurse(RN) is around 80,010 dollars per year, according to the BLS.
3. Computer Science
Gone are the times when the computer science field only consisted of programming courses. Now, computer science professionals have their hands full with everything from driverless vehicles to educational tools to cutting-edge technology to making advances in cyber security to everything in between. After all, digital technology is influencing everything in our world right now; and new products are being manufactured that are tech-driven. Due to this, the future looks bright for candidates who want to pursue a degree, and hopefully, a career in the computer science field.
The computer science field’s reach is widespread; and it continues to influence various other industries such as medicine, politics, and art. However, in the end, the goal here is to train a new generation of computer science professionals that can develop innovative; intelligent systems incorporating new applications and algorithms. As a result, computer science-related jobs are in high demand; with an average salary of around 126,830 dollars per year for a Computer and Information Research Scientist role, according to the BLS.
4. Mechatronics Engineering
While Standing somewhere between electrical and mechanical engineering; mechatronics is all bout teaching candidates how to develop and manage mechanical devices such as robots and motors. Plus, it teaches how to take sensor data from said devices and turn it into commands. That said, mechatronics is a field that is experiencing significant growth in 2021, especially in autonomous driving and robotics. Moreover, numerous universities are offering candidates dedicated mechatronics courses under the mechanical engineering umbrella. That said, engineering graduates have excellent salaries in general; roughly around 66,500 dollars per year, according to a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey.
5. Business Studies
Typically, business majors take business law, business management, marketing, finance, and accounting courses. That said, their education usually includes working on team projects with real-world case studies and participating in hands-on experience opportunities and internships. In fact, business is a trendy field these days, and for good reasons!
Candidates who work in business-related roles have to juggle interconnectivity and remote workers; consider global economies, and manage complicated processes and workspaces on a day-to-day basis. They also have to ensure that their employer’s business functions efficiently and effectively, churning out a profit whenever it can. That said, in the business field, finance and international business majors earn the highest with an average pay of around 112,200 dollars per year, according to Payscale.com.
6. Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Pharmaceutical sciences field consists of educational programs that prepare candidates for technical roles in drug companies’ sales, production, and development divisions. Moreover, it also prepares them for a career as a pharmaceutical researcher or pharmacist. After gaining experience in science and math, Pharmaceutical sciences majors move to advanced coursework in regulatory compliance; quality assurance,e toxicology, drug action mechanisms, and drug design.
Finally, after acquiring the degree of their choice; candidates can apply for roles in big pharma companies where the potential earning increases. For instance, the average salary of a pharmacist is around 128,710 dollars per year. In comparison, a pharmaceutical researcher makes about 107,270 dollars per year, according to the BLS.
Many candidates pursue majors purely based on interest and passion. However, the smartest thing to do here is to go for one that piques your interests while also providing you with a high average salary and growth. After all, it is already challenging to find a high-paying job in the real-world economy. By enrolling in one of the highest-paying degrees; it will be much easier to ensure success in the job market instead of barely surviving.
