Highest paying college majors based on early-career median salaries

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 6, 2026

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's 2024 analysis reveals that early-career graduates with bachelor’s degrees in computer engineering, computer science, and other engineering fields earn the highest median salaries, with computer engineering leading at $90,000. This highlights the strong earning potential of STEM and business majors immediately after graduation, while also emphasizing the importance of advanced degrees for careers outside these fields.

A recent analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York highlights the financial outcomes of different college majors for early-career graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree but have not pursued advanced degrees. Using 2024 data, the study examines median salaries for workers aged 22 to 27, emphasizing the significant variation in earnings tied to undergraduate fields of study.

The analysis excludes individuals with advanced degrees such as medical, law, or business degrees, focusing solely on those entering the workforce immediately after completing their undergraduate education. As a result, careers heavily dependent on graduate education are not reflected in the rankings. The data largely emphasize the earning potential associated with science, technology, engineering, and business disciplines.

According to the findings, computer engineering tops the list with a median early-career salary of $90,000, followed closely by computer science at $87,500. Chemical and aerospace engineering share a median salary of $85,000, while industrial engineering graduates earn around $83,000. Electrical and mechanical engineering graduates report median salaries of $82,000 and $80,000 respectively.

The report indicates a cluster of engineering disciplines dominating the highest-paying majors, with construction services, civil engineering, general engineering, and miscellaneous engineering each showing median salaries of approximately $75,000. Beyond engineering, economics and business analytics majors earn a median of $72,000, with finance and mathematics graduates making around $70,000.

Notably, nursing also appears in the top ranks, tied at $70,000, underscoring its competitive earning power even among science and business-focused majors.

The study serves as a resource for current and prospective college students, illustrating how choice of major can significantly affect early-career earnings. It also underscores that advanced degrees remain crucial for higher salaries in many fields not represented on the list. Overall, the data reflect the continuing premium placed on STEM and business-related undergraduate education in the job market.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.