No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least. But which specific majors result in the highest and lowest paydays? A recent New York Federal Reserve survey takes a look.
Looking at the broader jobs picture, over 275,000 jobs were added in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The strongest growth was in healthcare, food service and local governments, but retail and e-commerce delivery got a boost from warmer weather. Some jobs require no college education, while others require a four-year degree or more.
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College majors that pay the most five years after graduation
| Major | Median Wage Early Career | Median Wage Mid Career |
| Chemical Engineering | $79.000 | $133,000 |
| Computer Engineering | $80,000 | $125,000 |
| Aerospace Engineering | $74,000 | $120,000 |
| Electrical Engineering | $72,000 | $112,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $70,000 | $111,000 |
| Computer Science | $78,000 | $110,000 |
| Finance | $66,000 | $104,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $71,000 | $100,000 |
| General Engineering | $68,000 | $100,000 |
| Miscellaneous Engineering | $68,000 | $100,000 |
College majors that pay the least five years after graduation
| Major | Median Wage Early Career | Median Wage Mid Career |
| Liberal arts | $38,000 | $65,000 |
| Performing arts | $38,000 | $64,000 |
| Theology and religion | $38,000 | $56,000 |
| Leisure and hospitality | $39,700 | $67,000 |
| General social sciences | $40,000 | $70,000 |
| History | $40,000 | $70,000 |
| Miscellaneous biological science | $40,000 | $68,000 |
| Fine arts | $40,000 | $68,000 |
| Treatment therapy | $40,000 | $67,000 |
| Nutrition sciences | $40,000 | $65,000 |
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