5 Bachelor’s Degrees With High-Paying Jobs In 2024

Like the majority of Gen Zers, you’ve undoubtedly noticed how uncertain the job market and global economy are, and you’re certainly eager to get your finances and career off to a good start. Choosing where and what to study is one of the most important decisions you will make when starting a career, assuming you decide to continue further education at all.

The order of priorities is changing. Five, maybe ten years ago, you could have survived on $50,000 annually. But given the choices you have to make these days—buying a house and a car, paying off credit card debt, bills, and student loan debt, as well as the cost of living—that is not enough given inflation.

You now have some difficult choices to make early in your career. If you decide to pursue a three- or four-year degree, you must be sure the expense is justified. You need a degree that pays well so you can pursue high-paying employment that will allow you to live comfortably and pay off your debts, including your student loans.

How To Choose A Bachelor’s Degree

It’s critical to recognize the significance of your study location while choosing what to study. The university offering your foundational course is just as important as the subject you plan to major in.

Think about their track record of success in terms of job opportunities. Naturally, their website will extol their achievements, but to grasp the range of professional development, employment and entrepreneurial preparation/opportunities, and available training, you can also speak with graduates or current students.

Make sure you do your homework to find out how long it takes for a graduate of the college of your choice to get employment in the same field, as well as the employment rate for that particular college.

You should evaluate average salaries but don’t forget to analyze success stories in entrepreneurship as well. This is because you will need to make sure that you have more than just a job; to protect your career from layoffs and other unfavorable changes in your industry and work market, you must be able to start your own business if necessary.

When picking your bachelor’s degree and planning your career and professional development, all of these are important things to take into account.

Five Highest-Paying Bachelor’s Degrees

Pay disparities exist among bachelor’s degree holders, as Coursera pointed out. You are entirely correct if you believe that bachelor’s degrees in STEM subjects tend to pay more early in a person’s career than those in the liberal arts. That is not to argue that earning money is impossible.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent salary data and research and analysis from October 2023 by BestColleges.com indicate that the following five bachelor’s degrees are the highest-paying ones you should think about pursuing in 2024:

1. Petroleum Engineering

$131,800 is the average pay for a petroleum engineer. In addition to extracting natural resources like gas and oil from subterranean reservoirs, this work also entails creating new procedures and equipment for this purpose.

2. Aeronautics and Astronautics

Space mission planners, satellite engineers, avionics and aerospace engineers, and aircraft maintenance technicians are among the positions in aeronautics and astronautics. In this field, the average income is $126,880, and job growth is expected to be faster than average at 6%.

3. Actuarial Mathematics

Actuaries use their extensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and financial modeling to analyze risk and the related financial implications. For businesses like insurance, real estate, and government benefit administration, this position is essential.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, actuaries are expected to grow in demand by 23% faster than average until 2032, making them one of the most sought-after professions at the moment. For this kind of position, the average pay is $113,990.

4. Computer Science

A bachelor’s degree in computer science can help you get high-paying positions as a web developer, software developer, app developer, or senior software developer. For even greater income potential, you can also focus on and advance in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, and/or machine learning.

A 25% increase in demand is anticipated for computer science positions, which makes sense given the growth in artificial intelligence. The average salary in this field is $124,200.

5. Business Computing

A bachelor’s degree in business computing usually combines a business administration or management degree with the fundamentals of computer science from a business standpoint.

If you’re not sure about your professional path but have a strong interest in both business and technology, this “best of both worlds” approach can be quite helpful. Alternatively, you can aspire to become a tech entrepreneur and seek knowledge of technology, business administration, and technological applications within the business domain.

A high-paying position that can benefit from a business computing bachelor’s degree in information security analysis, which has an average salary of $112,000 and is expected to grow in demand by 32%.

Above all, when deciding which degree to pursue, keep in mind that there is no secret to choosing a certain field of study, even though some pay more than others, as previously said.

The real, palpable advantage is in the experiences you have while pursuing your education, as well as the transferable abilities you acquire—like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, communication, leadership, and flexibility. These are the things that advance your career and have an impact on your pay.