A recent report highlights college majors and careers yielding the highest salaries. Engineering dominates, with petroleum engineering leading at a median mid-career salary of $212,000, followed by electrical ($155,000) and computer engineering ($140,000). Computer science ($136,000) and applied mathematics ($130,000) also rank high. Outside STEM, finance ($120,000) and economics ($115,000) offer strong returns.
Career-wise, software engineers top the list with median earnings of $130,000, followed by data scientists ($125,000) and financial managers ($115,000). Healthcare roles like physician assistants ($110,000) and nurse practitioners ($105,000) also perform well. The report emphasizes that STEM and finance fields continue to outpace others, though rising demand for AI and green energy skills is boosting earnings in specialized niches. Location, experience, and industry impact salaries significantly.