Hot Degrees: 8 College Majors That Are Currently In High Demand

One way to increase your chances of earning a good living is to pick a college major that prepares you to work in a field that pays well. Here are some of the best options and how you might expect to fare.

College is often considered the surest path to a lucrative career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s degrees are required for 169 occupations in this country. People with higher levels of education generally earn higher salaries. Specifically, people with bachelor’s degrees had a median weekly paycheck of $1,305 (more than $67,000 a year) in 2020, compared to $781 (or $40,600) for workers with a high school diploma.

But not all college degrees are created equal. And with student loan payments looming for many, we thought it would be good to know which college majors pay best.

To determine which majors typically come with the best hiring prospects and salary, we consulted with compensation research firm Payscale, which ran data for us from its salary survey of more than 150,000 workers with bachelor’s degrees. We looked for courses of study that tend to lead to fat paychecks—both right out of school and further along their career path. Plus, we factored in the percentage of workers who feel their jobs have a positive impact on the world, as having a sense of purpose can be just as important as having a good payday. The survey also asked how satisfied workers were in their chosen fields, how much stress they experienced and whether they feel they make the world a better place.

This year, PayScale looked at nearly 159,000 salary profiles submitted over the past year and culled a total of 50 college majors. Across those majors in this survey, the early career pay was $60,000 with mid career pay coming to $92,100. In this population, 67% said they were extremely or fairly satisfied with their job, while 59% said their jobs were extremely or fairly stressful. Asked if their jobs made the world a better place, 54% said yes, or “very much so.”

Our list presents the best shots at success and satisfaction in the workplace, complete with generous incomes and an abundance of job opportunities. Check out the best college majors for a lucrative career. (Spoiler alert: STEM majors—that is, fields in science, technology, engineering and math—dominate.)

For each of the college majors, Payscale provided median annual salaries for entry-level workers (with five years or less of work experience) and mid-career employees (with at least 10 years of experience). Payscale also provided “high job meaning” scores, which indicate the percentage of workers with each college major who say their work makes the world a better place. Information about the number of positions in each field, projected growth and further salary numbers were provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Indeed.com.

Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop and improve computer systems, as well as components including circuit boards, networks and routers. According to CompTIA, computer engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and systems analysts make up the second-largest category of tech jobs. According to ComputerScience.org, computer engineers combine “electrical engineering and computer science to develop new technology. Computer engineers design, build, and maintain hardware in modern computers…Along with personal devices, computer engineers have a hand in creating robotics, networks, and other computer-based systems. This role tends to include a high amount of research and development, testing, and quality assurance. Computer engineering might appeal to problem-solvers and technology enthusiasts.”

To complete this major, plan for a math- and science-heavy schedule, including classes in computer architecture, digital-logic design and systems programming. And given how rapidly this field advances, plan on plenty of ongoing education throughout your career.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the field of computer hardware engineering should grow slower than average at 2%, with just 1,000 jobs added this decade. It projects about 4,500 job openings a year, primarily because of the need to replace workers who move to different occupations or leave the labor force.

Yes, the second spot belongs to another field of study that starts with “computer.” The difference? This is more software than hardware. Computer science can help prepare you for a number of jobs in the hot tech field, from app developer to systems analyst—both of which are among our picks for 30 of the best jobs for the future. Learning to program is a key part of this major. Some classes you can expect to take include the theory of formal languages, intro to program design, digital system design and artificial intelligence.

According to the BLS, computer systems analyst jobs are expected to grow at a rate of 7%, or about average for all jobs, with 42,800 jobs projected to be added this decade. About 47,500 jobs are projected to open each year.

Our gadget-driven world has a high demand for people who can design, build and improve electronic and electrical devices. The coursework looks very similar to that of computer engineering students, a field which is considered a branch of electrical engineering. That’s because of the proliferation of computers being used to operate all sorts of products. Expect to take courses such as circuit analysis and design, digital systems, electric components and tools and semiconductor technology.

The BLS predicts growth in this field to be average at 7%, with about 20,400 jobs to be added in the current decade. The bureau projects about 22,700 job openings each year, mainly to replace those who move to different occupations or leave the labor force.

This major takes the study of chemistry and materials science one step further into the process of producing commercial goods by adding engineering. As a student of this field, you’ll learn how to use raw materials to create products from antibiotics to weed killer. Typical courses for this path include biochemistry, chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, as well as many other types of math and science.

One obvious career goal when studying this field: Become a chemical engineer, a lucrative profession. But it’s a small market with just 26,300 or so of these professionals now working in the U.S. Still, the field has seen growth. It’s up 17.5% over the past decade and expected to rise another 9% over the next decade. Other jobs this major can help prepare you for include: chemist, materials scientist or petroleum engineer.

The sky is not the limit for aerospace engineers, who help us explore beyond the confines of our planet. Aerospace engineering degrees can lead to careers in science research, engineering design, marketing or software development or marketing, and more. People who work in the field design and build aircraft, missiles, national defense systems and spacecraft. Jobs may require security clearances.

According to EducatingEngineers.com, “The two main branches of aerospace engineering degrees are aeronautics and astronautics… Aerospace engineering majors should be prepared to engage in a significant amount of actual design and implementation in addition to coursework.” Interestingly, the recommended coursework isn’t all science; the web site encourages students to consider learning Russian, Japanese or German, given those countries’ deep involvement in spacecraft development.

BLS says there were 61,400 jobs in this field as of 2020, with a projected growth rate of about 8% a year for the next decade, about average for all jobs. The bureau projects about 5,100 jobs being added in the decade, with about 4,000 openings a year.

In the broadest of engineering fields, these majors study machines, including what they’re made of and how they work, with courses such as circuit analysis, fluid mechanics, materials science and thermodynamics. Sound like a lot to cover? You’re not wrong. Indeed, mechanical engineering students often take five years (or four years including a couple of summers) for their degrees to allow time for internships with hands-on work experience to complement theoretical studies. The good news is these cooperative programs do include paid gigs, so you can offset some of those extra educational costs.

And it likely all pays off in the end. These degree holders tend to have little problem finding work, with 85.1% being employed full-time, according to the Hamilton Project, an economic policy initiative of the Brookings Institution. Most majors go on to become mechanical engineers (naturally), with a median salary of more than $95,000 a year. But some also find other well-paying jobs as other types of engineers, including civil and aerospace, and even as software developers and similar positions.

There are more than 299,000 people in the field. BLS projects job growth for mechanical engineers at 7% a year, about average for all jobs, with 20,900 jobs expected to be added this decade. About 20,200 job openings are anticipated each year, on average.

This engineering field offers about the same pay as mechanical engineering but more employment opportunities, with job growth projected at 14% a year, faster than average for all jobs. The BLS expects about 40,000 of these positions to be added this decade, with 23,300 job openings projected each year.

Industrial engineers, who develop systems to make products and provide services in the most efficient way possible, are less specialized than mechanical engineers and can find work in a range of industries, from aerospace and motor vehicle parts manufacturing to natural gas distribution and oil and gas extraction. The national median income for industrial engineers is $95,300 a year in 2021. To get a degree in this field, expect to study a lot of math and science, as well as more focused classes such as engineering economics, facilities planning and design and inventory management. Also, if you’re interested in getting some hands-on experience and a master’s degree, some colleges offer a five- or six-year cooperative education plans that combine regular classes with practical and paid work.

It wont take much force to accelerate a physics major toward a lucrative career (regardless of mass). Physicists and astronomers have a projected job growth rate of 8%. And while you may need to get an advanced degree to land this role in many research and academic settings—which may be worth the extended and more expensive journey, if you’re so inclined—the federal government and private-sector employers do offer positions to physics bachelors. And your education can also prepare you well for positions in other fields, including technology and engineering, as well as teaching high school. Some jobs to consider with a bachelors in physics include mechanical, computer and civil engineers—all of which offer above-average growth projections and pay.

Various physics classes including computational, modern and nuclear physics obviously will fill your schedule. You should also be prepared to do a lot of math, work on experiments both independently and with classmates, and apply your problem-solving skills.

It’s a relatively small field, with just 19,500 jobs nationwide in 2020, according to BLS. Just 1,600 jobs are expected to be added annually this decade, with about 1,500 openings a year.

What is an operations management major? It’s a huge field that is expected to continue to grow. But for specifics, let’s ask The Princeton Review: “The world of business involves many intricate workings, and Operations Management covers them all. Operations Managers seek to control the processes that determine outputs from businesses. In other words, as an Operations Management major you’ll study operating systems, quality management, product design, supply chain management, and inventory control. You’ll study how equipment, information, labor, and facilities are used in the production process. You’ll learn about every step that goes into making a product or service and how to make each step as efficient and beneficial to the company as possible.”

This degree should provide the skills you need to turn a business into a strong marketplace competitor.

According to BLS, the median annual pay for general and operations managers was $97,970 in 2021. The bureau grouped operations managers together with top executives, an occupation expected to grow at a rate of 8%. There are more than 2.7 million of these positions in the United States, with 209,500 expected to be added this decade. The BLS projects more than 247,000 job openings a year.

1 Information Technology Management

According to the University of Minnesota, the information technology management program “prepares students for technology, networking, and information management careers in business, finance, telecommunication, government, and education.” In addition, this degree can equip students to work as information network administrators, webmasters, systems analysts or engineers, application developers, and information systems managers. That’s a lot to unpack. How about we say these professionals plan, coordinate and direct computer-related activities.

There were 482,000 jobs in the field, which is projected to grow at a rate of 11% this decade. The bureau projects 52,700 of these jobs to be added, with annual job openings of 42,400.

• Starting Salary: $68,200
• Mid Career Salary: $84,400
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 66%
• Job is Stressful: 80%
• Job Has Meaning: 81%

If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it should be that we need and should value healthcare professionals. Chief among them are nurses, who risked their lives to care for the sick and dying. In 2020, registered nurses suffered 78,740 injuries and illnesses on the job, an increase of more than 290% over 2019. So frankly, they can’t be paid enough.

And looking at the survey results shows 80%, the highest of all these college majors, reporting their jobs as stressful. The upside is slightly more, 81%, report the job is meaningful. It’s both a demanding and rewarding job.

Even without the pandemic, the need for nurses and other healthcare professionals is being driven by the aging population, as well as advancing technology helping people live longer, healthier lives. And prospects for registered nurses (RNs) are promising with their numbers expected to grow by 9%, over the next decade. RNs earn a median $77,600 a year. There are more than 3 million registered nurses in the U.S, with that number expected to grow by more than 276,000 this decade and 194,500 openings a year.

To reach RN ranks, nursing students must take many science courses, including anatomy, chemistry, microbiology and nutrition. You also get supervised clinical experience in various specialties, such as pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery. And youll have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination to get your license (additional requirements vary by state).

• Starting Salary: $68,000
• Mid Career Salary: $122,000
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 65%
• Job is Stressful: 54%
• Job Has Meaning: 41%

Majoring in economics is another way to benefit from growing opportunities linked to the big-data boom. Like statisticians, economists are mostly employed by the federal government, which may be a limiting factor. In fact, there are just 18,600 economist jobs in the country. But the field is projected to grow faster than average, with 2,400 positions expected to be added this decade and about 1,600 job openings a year. In addition to government, you can also find work with employers specializing in consulting services, scientific research and finance—though you’ll likely need an advanced degree to move beyond entry-level positions. Economists can expect a median salary of $105,630 a year. Employers also look for people with economics degrees to fill positions as financial managers, purchasing agents and data analysts.

You can, of course, expect to take a variety of economics classes in college, including micro- and macroeconomics as well as business economics and economic theory. Economics degrees are often awarded as a bachelor of science (with a focus on math, statistics and other quantitative studies) or as a bachelor of arts, where you can expect more classes in theory as well as requirements for foreign language and liberal arts study.

• Starting salary: $67,500
• Mid Career Salary: $114,000
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 71%
• Job is Stressful: 58%
• Job Has Meaning: 69%

Of all the many engineering fields that appear on this list, this major unfortunately turns out to have the lowest entry-level pay. But you can expect that salary to reach six figures by mid-career. (And hey, Mexican business mogul Carlos Slim—one of the richest people in the world—studied civil engineering and gets by just fine.) And the opportunities are far more plentiful than they are in many other engineering fields. Civil engineers, who design and supervise the construction of airports, sewer systems and other large projects, are expected to add more than 38,000 positions to their already robust ranks of 323,245 by 2027. Median pay for this job is $83,283 a year.

An inclination toward math and science would make you a good civil engineering candidate. Your course load would include fluid mechanics, statics, structural analysis and design, and thermodynamics. Also be prepared to think through many word problems and work on group projects.

• Starting salary: $67,400
• Mid Career Salary: $116,000
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 70%
• Job is Stressful: 50%
• Job Has Meaning: 44%

Mathematics put the “M” in STEM. It’s one of the school subjects valued for its potential to point toward a career path that is beneficial both to the student and the country. In short, we need STEM majors to help us advance as a nation.

But some students may avoid the major because they think it only equips them to teach math. But that’s not the case at all. So what, specifically, does a mathematics major in college prepare you for? Vanderbilt College of Arts and Sciences lists the following employers who want math majors:

• Accounting firms
• Actuarial firms
• Airlines and other transportation companies
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Computer manufacturers
• Consulting firms
• Educational institutions
• Engineering firms
• Government agencies
• Health services
• Insurance agencies
• Insurance companies
• Investment firms
• Real estate firms
• Research and development firms
• Securities firms
• Software development firms
• Technical publishing firms
• Telecommunications companies
• Textbook publishing companies
• Utility companies

In other words, math majors are prepared to do a lot. And they’re not pigeonholed into one profession, which spells flexibility.

1 Computer Information Systems

• Starting salary: $67,200
• Mid Career Salary: $105,000
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 74%
• Job is Stressful: 50%
• Job Has Meaning: 50%

City University of Seattle says a computer information systems degree is ideal for people who have people skills and like technology. As they put it, “Computer information systems marries core business training with solid technical skills. This field allows you to dip a toe in the computer science waters, while giving you the opportunity to thrive as a business person.”

Indeed.com says the field involves using technology in a business setting and lists 16 careers this degree prepares you for. The careers span a lot of different pay ranges, for people who struggle to afford the rent to some who can afford to live rather comfortably. The jobs on the lower end may require just an associates degree, while the higher end jobs may require a more advanced education.

The most lucrative on this list is chief technology officer, which pays more than $150,000 a year, followed by software engineer at $107,500 annually. People with this degree can also become information technology managers earning a national average of almost $105,000 or information security analysts, who earn an average of almost $98,000.

• Starting salary: $66,600
• Mid Career Salary: $110,000
• Job Provides Satisfaction: 72%
• Job is Stressful: 73%
• Job Has Meaning: 59%

Demand for expertise in this field is building. A shortage of housing stock and an explosion in rents are fueling the need for new construction, as well as the improvement and maintenance of existing buildings and infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and sewer pipe systems. That means growing opportunities for construction managers, an obvious professional goal for this academic path. Plus, their median income is a solid $98,890 a year.

The BLS projects a faster-than-average growth rate of 11%, but remember that demand for these professionals can fluctuate with the economy and housing market. There are 448,000 construction manager jobs in the U.S., and that number is projected to grow by 51,400 this decade with about 38,900 job openings a year.

In attaining this degree, expect to study a variety of subjects, covering both the physical labor of the related work and the business side of the industry. That includes courses such as construction materials and systems, blueprint reading, cost management, labor law and electrical and mechanical systems.

Top 10 College Majors That Are Actually Worth It

Which undergraduate degrees are in demand?

Here are several undergraduate degrees that are currently in demand: 1. Associate Degree in Physical Therapy Pursuing an Associate Degree in Physical Therapy allows individuals to obtain a position as a physical therapist assistant. These professionals are directly involved in the care of patients and assist physical therapists.

Which majors are in high demand?

Below, we’ve written out a list of the top 10 majors that are currently in high demand. 1. Business If you have a knack for strategic thinking and leadership, a business degree might be your ticket to a promising career.

How many college majors are in demand?

Read a list of 23 college majors in demand, including information about potential career paths and job outlooks, to help you plan a successful career.

Why are some degrees in high demand?

Certain degrees are in high demand due to a lack of qualified professionals to fulfill the job openings. These degrees in most demand tend to require a high level of education and sometimes a lengthy educational investment.