10 تخصصات تقودك لراتب الـ 100 ألف

Choosing a university major is no longer just an academic decision; it may be the first gateway to real wealth in midlife. A recent economic analysis revealed that certain university majors can propel their graduates to salaries exceeding $100,000 annually when they reach the peak of their careers.

The analysis conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York was based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2024 and included 73 university majors. It concluded with a striking finding that 21 majors provide their graduates with an average income exceeding $100,000 annually at the mid-career stage, which is the age range between 35 and 45 years.

However, the surprise was not just in the number, but in the majors that lead to it.

Engineering.. The Shortest Path to Huge Salaries

Engineering majors topped the list by a clear margin, as the data showed that their graduates achieve the highest income levels after years of entering the job market, giving them a significant financial advantage compared to other majors.

The list of the top ten highest-paying majors at mid-career is as follows:

• Chemical Engineering: Average $135,000
• Computer Engineering: $131,000
• Aerospace Engineering: $130,000
• Electrical Engineering: $123,000
• Computer Science: $120,000
• Mechanical Engineering: $120,000
• Construction Services: $120,000
• Civil Engineering: $115,000
• Economics: $115,000
• Finance: $112,000

Notably, even the lowest-paid engineering major, Industrial Engineering, achieves an average income close to $100,000 by mid-career.

Why Do Engineers Earn These Salaries?

Daniel Chao, Chief Economist at Glassdoor, believes the reason lies in the nature of the study itself, as engineering majors require intensive academic training, and sometimes graduate degrees, in addition to the fact that the number of qualified engineers is less than the demand in the job market.

This skills shortage drives companies to offer high salaries to attract and retain them.

The analysis also noted that majors related to computing and engineering provide their graduates with the best financial start. Computer Engineering recorded the highest average starting salary of around $90,000 annually, followed by Computer Science at about $87,000.

Chao emphasizes that a high salary at the beginning of a career often places an employee on an upward wage trajectory throughout their working life.

The data focused on those aged 35 to 45 today. This generation has faced a series of economic crises since the beginning of their careers, starting with the global financial crisis in 2008, through labor market disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, to a relative economic slowdown after the pandemic.

Despite this, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the unemployment rate for the age group between 35 and 44 was about 3.3% in February, which is relatively low.

Even with a slowdown in hiring in the technology sector, experts assert that engineering skills will remain in high demand in the coming years.

The story of computer science graduate Andrew Chen illustrates this reality. After graduating from the University of California, San Diego without an immediate job offer, he later managed to secure a software engineer position at Amazon with a salary exceeding $100,000 annually.

This story reflects a clear truth that choosing the right major can be the first step towards a completely different financial future.