Top 21 School Majors To Get A Good Job
Top 21 Major To Get A Job | Best College Majors for Good Jobs. 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. There are certain majors where the demand continues to outstrip supply.
Your major is often starting point for many careers, as it showcases your skills, training and ability to successfully perform a role. 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.
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The top majors for finding a good job after graduation are:
1. Nursing
The aging of our population continues to increase our need for qualified nurses and other medical personnel in associated fields. The knock on the field is that advancement remains difficult. However, if you are dedicated to serving others in a meaningful way, nursing is a great career to consider.
2. Chemical Engineering
Lots of opportunities to work with new technologies, including clean energy, medical, plastic resins (think carbon fiber) and biotech. There are diverse opportunities, but you likely will need to be willing to relocate to find a job in ChemEng, unless you hail from a major city or manufacturing hub.
3. Biomedical Engineering
The biomed field is growing not only due to the biomed industry, but also related industries of healthcare and medical devices. Smartphone usage and the rise of technology such as 3D printing further add to the demand. The results is a high demand for newly minted biomedical engineers.
4. Actuarial Science
There are not a lot of actuaries, but there are fewer still graduates with actuarial science degrees, setting up a favorable demand/supply gap. Most actuaries will work in the insurance field, although there are other roles in healthcare and government as well. Those who have passed at least two actuary exams and have completed an internship will have the best opportunities available.
5. Finance
Plenty of demand, although the greatest demand is at the top end of the field. So you will need excellent grades or a degree from a name brand school to compete for the best positions. Or both.
6. Accounting
Both public and private accounting are seeking newly minted accountants in audit, tax and corporate accounting. In addition, the career is often a stepping stone to management and upper management opportunities.
7. Computer Science
Computer science degrees, especially those from name brand schools, remain the highest in demand of all majors. Many graduates have multiple job offers from which to choose.
8. Civil engineering
Civil engineers design, maintain and adapt modern infrastructure in cities across the country. They primarily work in offices but also visit outdoor construction sites as necessary. Jobs in this area may grow by 7% between 2021 and 2031. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this growth is due to an increased need for road repair and construction.
9. Systems engineering
Systems engineers monitor the performance of systems through all stages of operations for solving technical problems. They primarily work in offices and manufacturing plants. After completing this major, students may gain the logistical skills necessary to become a logistician.
10. Criminal justice
Depending on their area of expertise, criminal justice majors do their part in both fighting and preventing crime. They primarily work for police departments and government organizations.
11. Agricultural science
Agricultural scientists research new methods of improving animal or soil health, thereby improving food quality. They work in laboratories for food production companies as well as on farms.
12. Biology
Biologists study life and often specialize in specific organisms and their relationship to the environment. They often work in educational settings but also work for government agencies and laboratories. Jobs for biochemists and biophysicists, who combine their biology education with other scientific fields, can expect job growth.
13. Marketing
One of the highest demand roles for newly minted college grads is Sales. So if you are a Marketing major willing to work in Sales (i.e. not theoretical marketing, but actually selling stuff that people want and need), you will find a plethora of opportunities. And Sales is traditionally one of the best paying professions as well.
14. Electrical Engineering
You get to design, develop and test electrical equipment. And get paid for it. Paid very well. This is one of the most employable majors to have as a college graduate, with most graduates receiving multiple job offers.
15. Computer Engineering
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop and improve computer systems, as well as components including circuit boards, networks and routers. According to CompTIA(opens in new tab), computer engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and systems analysts make up the second-largest category of tech jobs. Computer engineers combine “electrical engineering and computer science to develop new technology. Computer engineers design, build, and maintain hardware in modern computers.
16. Aerospace Engineering
The two main branches of aerospace engineering degrees are aeronautics and astronautics. 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.
17. Chemistry
Chemists study how chemicals affect each other and their surrounding environments. They often work in educational settings and in laboratories and offices.
18. Sports science
Sports scientists assist athletes in achieving their best physical performance levels by applying methodologies from medicine and biomechanics.
19. Education
Educators teach students, prepare lesson plans and grade coursework. They work within educational institutions from elementary school to college.
20. Operations Management
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.
21. 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.
Top 10 Worst-paying College Majors
- Social Services.
- Anthropology.
- Miscellaneous Biological Science.
- Early Childhood Education.
- Theology and Religion.
- Family and Consumer Sciences.
- English Language
- Fine Arts.
- General Social Sciences.
- Performing Arts
- Psychology.
- Leisure and Hospitality.
- Liberal Arts.
- Foreign Language.
Four majors — performing arts, family and consumer sciences, general social sciences and social services — actually pay less than the median salary of $35,805 for full-time workers in the U.S., regardless of education, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
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