If you’re looking to make the most lucrative investment in your education, you might be wondering how to choose a major based on future job prospects. Well, you’re in luck, because in 2024, the top five college majors commanding the highest salaries encompass a diverse array of fields. So you have LOTS of interesting options!
Below, we’ll unpack the top five highest paying college majors, as of 2024, and examine future job prospects alongside other considerations when choosing your major.
Let’s dive in!
1. Computer Science
First among the highest-paying majors in 2024 is Computer Science. Computer Science graduates can thank the tech sector’s rapid growth that continues to create job opportunities for skilled professionals.
A Computer Science degree offers versatile skills that allow graduates to find jobs as computer and information systems managers, making an average of $159,010 a year; computer network architects, at $120,520 yearly; and information security analysts, making around $102,600 a year. These professionals get to foster innovation in cutting-edge projects and push the field forward while supporting themselves comfortably.
Competitive salaries reflect the value placed on these specialized skills, with many opportunities for career advancement into management or specialization. Plus, the rise of remote work adds flexibility to employment, while continuous learning is necessary to keep up with evolving tech trends.
2. Accounting
Accounting stands out in the 2024 highest-paying majors as a profession renowned for its stability, offering a reliable career path irrespective of economic conditions. Understanding the complexity of financial regulations is a skill very much in demand, fueling the need for skilled accounting professionals to navigate and ensure compliance with intricate laws.
Specialized roles within the sector exist, and impressively high salaries are paid for them, such as vice presidents of finance (making $138,600 a year), internal auditing managers (making $101,700 yearly), and financial planning and analysis managers (making $101,000 a year).
Accountants play an important role in financial management across various sectors. Plus, clear pathways for career advancement exist, leading to roles such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), controller, or financial manager.
Moreover, technological integration has transformed the profession, with a growing need for accountants proficient in data analysis and automation. Prestigious certifications like CPA or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) can significantly enhance earning potential and career advancement opportunities.
Unsure about a specific major? See UB helps you plan your future!
3. Business Administration
Business Administration is another contender for the top five highest-earning majors, as it remains a versatile and sought-after degree, offering a diverse skill set applicable across industries. And the numbers speak for themselves—financial managers bring in $123,968 yearly, supply chain managers can make $108,783 yearly, and sales managers make $107,319 yearly.
Graduates frequently hold leadership roles using managerial expertise to promote company success. A good Business Administration program strongly emphasizes critical thinking and strategic decision-making, two skills employers strongly value in the fast-paced corporate world. Many graduates of Business Administration programs start their own businesses, using their degrees as a starting point for endeavors with financial potential.
Business Administration students, in particular, benefit from schools that offer large-scale networking opportunities, linking students with business executives to create important professional relationships.
4. Finance
In 2024, Finance continues to be a highly coveted field. Graduates with Finance degrees are in high demand across various sectors, including investment banking ($265,972 yearly salary), chief financial officers (CFOs)(making an average of $433,088 yearly), and hedge fund managers (pulling in around $100,000 a year) Employers highly value specialized talents like risk management, investment techniques, and financial analysis. Globalization and technology improvements are driving the growth of the finance business, causing a need for qualified people.
And if you don’t have the capacity to pursue a degree, gaining certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certificate can strengthen your resume and still provide access to higher-level employment prospects without the investment a degree requires.
When studying for a Finance degree, students gain a global perspective essential for success, focusing on international banking and markets. While obtaining accurate financial data requires strong analytical abilities, especially in quantitative analysis, finance appeals to driven and detail-oriented people as it provides financial stability alongside opportunities for career growth into managerial roles or specialties.
5. Nursing
Nursing degrees are a mainstay in the top highest-paying majors available and will—no surprise here—continue to be in high demand in 2024. These days, this increase in nursing needs is driven primarily by an aging population, which translates nicely into competitive nurse salaries. Specialized roles such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (making $203,090 a year), Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses (making $136,592 a year), and Pain Management Nurses (making $124,006 a year) command the highest-paying salaries.
Students, therefore, are likely to pursue advanced nursing degrees like Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as this increases earning potential by qualifying nurses for more individual responsibility as well as higher-paying positions. Plus, non-traditional work hours, often accompanied by shift differentials, offer additional financial incentives. Salaries in nursing also vary based on geographic location and the demand for healthcare services in specific regions.
Finally, the nursing profession emphasizes continuing education, so gaining additional specialty certifications, experience, and specialized skills can boost earning potential throughout your career. Plus, union representation provides collective bargaining power, which stabilizes earning potential.
Pursue one of the highest paying majors in 2024
University of Bridgeport puts academic excellence at the forefront, with a diverse array of majors offered to students, including all of the high-paying majors mentioned above!
UB programs equip graduates with the skills necessary to foster professional success in their fields, and a UB degree allows graduates to contribute substantially to their respective sectors with the right tools in their belt.
Apply for admission at University of Bridgeport and start your future today!