Salary by Major & Career: 2026 Complete Guide (BLS Data for 50+ Paths)

Salary is the most-asked and worst-answered question in higher education. This pillar guide collects every MajorMatch resource on earnings — starting, mid-career, top-10%, and by major vs. trade — with real BLS data across 50+ paths.

Part 1: Starting salaries by major

• Average Starting Salary by Major
• Starting Salary 2026 (Latest BLS + NACE Data)

Part 2: Top-earning majors (lifetime)

From Georgetown CEW + BLS OES 2024 wages:

1. Petroleum engineering — $129K median, $4.1M lifetime
2. Chemical engineering — $113K median, $3.5M lifetime
3. Computer science — $112K median, $3.2M lifetime
4. Electrical engineering — $108K median, $3.3M lifetime
5. Aerospace engineering — $118K median, $3.6M lifetime
6. Nursing (BSN + specialty) — $86K median, $2.8M (fastest payback)
7. Finance — $82K median, $2.6M
8. Accounting + CPA — $82K median, $2.4M
9. Economics — $88K median, $2.5M
10. Actuarial science — $115K median, $3.2M

Part 3: Major-specific career guides

• Business Administration
• Engineering
• Nursing
• Psychology
• Business Degree

Part 4: Trades vs. college — salary head to head

• Trade School vs. College — Salary Comparison
• Skilled Trades vs. White Collar
• How Much Do Welders Make?

Part 5: High-paying paths without a degree

• Highest-Paying Careers Without a Degree
• AI-Proof Careers Without a Degree
• Electrician (BLS $62K median)
• Welder (BLS $51K median)
• Plumber (BLS $62K median)

Part 6: Mid-career earnings — the long game

Starting salary matters less than the salary curve. By year 10, these majors have the highest median:

• Computer science: $140K median at 10 years
• Chemical engineering: $135K
• Finance: $145K
• Nursing (specialty): $115K
• Business admin (with management trajectory): $117K
• Accounting (post-CPA): $110K

Trades mid-career:

• Electrician master/contractor: $120-180K
• Lineman journeyman: $110-160K
• Plumbing contractor: $110-180K
• Elevator tech master: $125K

Part 7: Decision framework

1. Define target income at age 30 (usually $80-120K for middle-class lifestyle in most cities)
2. Identify 2-3 majors/careers that reach that number by 30
3. Cross-reference with your personality + interests (the MajorMatch quiz does this automatically)
4. Work backward to the credential path with the lowest cost