In some jobs, you have to wait until you’ve got some experience under your belt before you begin to see a substantial payday — but when it comes, you’ll be thankful you paid your dues.
PayScale recently looked at salary data from this year’s College Salary Report and analyzed the difference between starting (less than five years of experience) and mid-career (10 or more years of experience) pay by college major.
While salary-growth potential shouldn’t necessarily encourage students to pursue a particular major, it’s an important consideration to make when thinking about the future.
Here are the 20 college majors with the greatest increases in wage between early- and mid-career.
20. Physics
Common jobs: Research physicist, electrical engineer, professor
Starting median pay: $55,500
Mid-career median pay: $106,000
Increase in pay: $50,500 / 91%
19. Advertising
Common jobs: Advertising account supervisor, media manager
Starting median pay: $41,300
Mid-career median pay: $78,900
Increase in pay: $37,600 / 91%
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18. Biology and chemistry
Common jobs: Biologist, chemist, professor
Starting median pay: $41,100
Mid-career median pay: $79,600
Increase in pay: $38,500 / 94%
17. Advertising and marketing communications
Common jobs: Advertising manager, brand manager, copywriter
Starting median pay: $41,500
Mid-career median pay: $80,400
Increase in pay: $38,900 / 94%
16. Biochemistry
Common jobs: Research scientist, research associate
Starting median pay: $43,400
Mid-career median pay: $84,500
Increase in pay: $41,100 / 95%
15. Marketing and communications
Common jobs: Market research analyst, public relations specialist
Starting median pay: $42,000
Mid-career median pay: $82,000
Increase in pay: $40,000 / 95%
14. Biological sciences
Common jobs: Agricultural and food scientist, biomedical engineer, forensic scientist
Starting median pay: $41,400
Mid-career median pay: $81,500
Increase in pay: $40,100 / 97%
13. Meteorology
Common jobs: Meteorologist
Starting median pay: $45,300
Mid-career median pay: $89,500
Increase in pay: $44,200 / 98%
12. Theatre and drama studies
Common jobs: Arts administrator, drama therapist, theatre director
Starting median pay: $37,800
Mid-career median pay: $75,000
Increase in pay: $37,200 / 98%
11. Physics and mathematics
Common jobs: Physicist, data scientist
Starting median pay: $50,900
Mid-career median pay: $101,000
Increase in pay: $50,100 / 98%
10. Cognitive science
Common jobs: Computer programmer, Human resources specialist, Health science administrator
Starting median pay: $51,400
Mid-career median pay: $102,000
Increase in pay: $50,600 / 98%
9. Philosophy
Common jobs: Attorney, minister, journalist
Starting median pay: $42,200
Mid-career median pay: $85,000
Increase in pay: $42,800 / 101%
8. Writing
Common jobs: Technical writer, production assistant, editor
Starting median pay: $37,700
Mid-career median pay: $76,100
Increase in pay: $38,400 / 102%
7. Actuarial mathematics
Common jobs: Actuary, actuarial analyst
Starting median pay: $58,800
Mid-career median pay: $119,000
Increase in pay: $60,200 / 102%
6. Aviation management
Common jobs: Aviation/aerospace program manager, corporate jet aircraft pilot
Starting median pay: $44,900
Mid-career median pay: $91,300
Increase in pay: $46,400 / 103%
5. Molecular biology
Common jobs: Biologist, research scientist, research associate
Starting median pay: $43,000
Mid-career median pay: $88,200
Increase in pay: $45,200 / 105%
4. Government and politics
Common jobs: Campaign worker, congressional aide, attorney
Starting median pay: $42,600
Mid-career median pay: $88,200
Increase in pay: $45,600 / 107%
3. Biochemistry and molecular biology
Common jobs: Molecular biologist, research scientist, research associate
Starting median pay: $44,100
Mid-career median pay: $91,400
Increase in pay: $47,300 / 107%
2. International and comparative politics
Common jobs: Campaign worker, attorney, activist
Starting median pay: $40,300
Mid-career median pay: $85,600
Increase in pay: $45,300 / 112%
1. Government
Common jobs: Campaign worker, lobbyist, political consultant
Starting median pay: $46,900
Mid-career median pay: $102,000
Increase in pay: $55,100 / 118%
Find out how your salary stacks up on PayScale.
- Businessinsider.com | January 6, 2015 | Rachel Gillett and Jacquelyn Smith
