Many people attend college to ensure themselves of a good, steady income once
they have completed their schooling. But, what college degrees offer the best
salaries?
When speaking of salaries, the most profitable college
degree is one in the medical field. The median salary for a physician in the
United States is about $150,000 a year. Anesthesiologists can make as much as
$300,000 a year, while most surgeons make at least $200,000 a year. While these
are high salaries, one has to consider the work, dedication, and monetary
investment required for such careers.
Most medical degrees require much more schooling than other degrees and the
student loans for those years of schooling can be enormous. On average, doctors
will graduate from medical school owing an average of $100,000 in student loans.
The American Medical Association estimates that the cost of attending a public
medical school has risen 312% over the past two decades. There is also the
emotional and psychological strain of being a doctor. Doctors work long hours
with little rest and are almost always on call. And, while the cost of becoming
a doctor is on the rise, the salary for being a doctor is leveling
off.
Engineering is an area which offers attractive salaries. A
chemical engineer starts out making an average of $63,616 a year, while an
engineer in the aerospace/aeronautical field makes an average of almost $58,000
a year. Civil engineers make an average of $46,023 a year - while those with a
chemical engineering degree make almost $57,000 a year.
Computer
science continues to be a field in hot demand. Students who graduate with a
degree in computer science make an average salary of $59,873 a year.
Computer science seems to be a field where the salaries are increasing. In the
spring of 2007, the salary of a computer science graduate jumped 14.7%, adding
an additional $7,500 a year.
Business degrees continue to be a
lucrative investment for college students. A graduate with a degree in business
administration or economics and finance can expect to make a starting salary of
between $38,254 and $40,630 a year. A student who receives an accounting degree
will make a little bit more – a starting average of $45,656 a
year.
Other fields have shown a jump in average starting salaries
for recent college graduates. Those majoring in the construction
science/management field saw a 13.4% increase from $46,506 to $52,745.
Agricultural business and management majors starting salaries increased from
$38,055 to $42,299. International Relations have become a very popular field
lately, with graduates expecting to start out at approximately $40,900 a year.
That is about the same starting range for a student graduating with a degree in
political science.
Hospitality services management graduates make a
bit less than some of the more technical degrees, with a college graduate
bringing home an average of $34,480. But, unlike some other fields, the average
salary for hospitality services management did recently rise
9.7%.
A college education is going to cost a person in not only
money, but also time and effort, so it only makes sense to pursue a degree that
will pay off well when the schooling is completed.