College Majors With the Highest Starting Salaries

College graduates can expect to make top dollar with these high-paying majors.

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

Hey college students! Starting to think about graduation already? Have you got your eyes set on landing your first job—and pulling in a sweet paycheck? How big that paycheck will be depends in large part on what you majored in to earn that bachelor’s degree. So what are the best college majors associated with the highest starting salaries? Glad you asked.

Monster pored over The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Winter 2022 Salary Survey Report, which plotted out the average starting salaries of many popular college majors, and we narrowed it down to the top eight that lead to good-paying jobs. The entry-level salaries (which don’t factor in overtime, bonuses, or other benefits) were gathered after NACE surveyed its members from October 4, 2021, through December 3, 2021. We also checked Monster's Salary Tool to determine each college major's salary potential overall.

No surprise, STEM majors—science, technology, engineering, and math—came out on top. Remember, though, salaries depend on your experience level, specialty, and where in the country you're employed. For example, a civil engineer salary in Oakland, California, is 18% higher than the national median; a data scientist salary in Kansas City, Missouri, is 10% lower than the national median; and an elementary school teacher salary in Little Rock, Arkansas, is 1% higher than the national median.

Read on to see which common majors can lead to high-paying careers right out of the gate.

College Majors That Make the Most Money

1. Computer Science

Technology is a major player when it comes to industries with the highest starting salaries. Leading the way are you computer science majors, who spent your undergraduate careers learning about programming, data structures, and operating systems. The past four years are about to pay off with an average salary projection of $75,900 your first year out of college, a 5.2% increase from 2021’s average starting salary of $72,173. Check out related jobs and salaries for a computer science major.

Find computer science jobs on Monster now.

2. Engineering

Those of you who majored in engineering are expected to start your careers with the second-highest salary of the bunch at $73,922—4% higher than 2021's salary projection of $69,961. And you've got a healthy job market, too. Architecture and engineering occupations are expected to grow 6% in the next decade, which is about average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS notes that the most in-demand jobs for engineering majors are those involving renewable energy, oil and gas, rebuilding infrastructure, and robotics.

Because engineering is a vast field, your salary will vary depending on the career path you take. For example, check out the jobs and salaries for an electrical engineering major and the jobs and salaries for a chemical engineering major.

Find engineering jobs on Monster now.

3. Math and Sciences

Earning a bachelor’s degree in the fields of math or science can set you up for a starting salary of $66,760, up 5.4% from $63,316 in 2021. Math occupations, which are growing at a faster-than-average pace, include actuaries, operations research analysts, and statisticians. Check out more jobs and salaries for a math major. Science majors, on the other hand, might find jobs working as a biological technician, a chemist, or a lab assistant at a hospital or doing research for a major corporation.

Like engineering, your pay potential depends on your career path. Check out jobs and salaries for an actuarial science major as well as jobs and salaries for a geology major jobs.

Find math jobs and science jobs on Monster now.

4. Social Sciences

So you studied social sciences in college. Where do you go next? The job market is your oyster, no matter if you’re looking for something in the public or private sector. It’s common for someone with a social science degree to become a government economist, data analyst, or even a salesperson. You can expect to take home $61,173—up 2.1% from $59,919 in 2021—in the first year.

For more sample career paths, check out jobs and salaries for an economics major; jobs and salaries for a psychology major; and jobs and salaries for an urban studies major.

Find social science jobs on Monster now.

5. Business

Business grads can expect a starting salary of $60,695, up 3.1% from $58,869 in 2021. Globalization, an economy on the upswing, and technological developments are all increasing the demand for business pros, such as management analysts, market researchers, purchasers, and human resources specialists. Business and financial occupations are expected to grow 8% in the next decade. Check out more related jobs and salaries for a business major.

Find business jobs on Monster now.

6. Agriculture and Natural Resources

If you're interested in growing things, you'll be thrilled to learn this industry has made the list. The average starting salary of $57,807 is a 5.4% growth from 2021's starting salary of $54,857. All your hard work in the lab, fields, and on the farm are going to pay off, whether you pursue a career in education, landscape design, or crop consulting. Check out more related jobs and salaries for an agriculture major.

Find agriculture and natural resources jobs on Monster.

7. Communications

Whether you decide to go into public relations, writing, video editing, or translating, your communications degree could help you earn an average starting salary of $55,455, down 4.7% from $58,174 in 2021. With 10 years under your belt, you could be looking at a salary well into the six figures.

Have a look at some jobs and salaries for a communications major (general); jobs and salaries for a public relations, advertising, and applied communication major; and jobs and salaries for a digital communication and media major.

Find communications jobs on Monster now.

8. Humanities

Graduating with a liberal arts degree, such as one in humanities, used to mean you’d have a harder time finding a full-time gig than your STEM-studying friends. Not so. Although starting salaries for humanities majors have fallen 14.8% to $50,681 compared to 2021's starting salary of $59,500, there's much to look forward to. The soft skills (critical thinking, creativity, and leadership) you’ve mastered over the past four years are what a lot of recruiters are looking for right now. Check out the many jobs and salaries for a humanities major.

Find popular jobs for humanities majors, such as teachers, editors, and sales representatives, on Monster now.

Graduate to the Next Step in Your Job Search

Congratulations! You’re about to join the workforce and kick off a promising career. But knowing which jobs to pursue is half the challenge. You have to get your applications in front of hiring managers. Could you use some help getting started? Create a free profile on Monster. We can connect you to recruiters in your areas of interest, send you customized job alerts to help you find a job faster, and deliver career advice to your inbox. You worked hard for four years—it’s time to reap the rewards with an awesome new job that’ll put you at the head of the class.