Find your perfect college degree
If you’re a college student with a reasonable level of awareness of the economy and the financial bouts of inflation, you’re most likely concerned with pursuing the right college major. To understand how you’ll fare in the career path you’re seeking, consider today’s cost of living.
Did you know that US households spend an average of $61,334 each year, with roughly $1,700 going to housing and housing-related expenses each month? The wage rate is $7.25 per hour, with the actual figures varying from state to state.
Do you want to make money that lets you live more comfortably and stree-free than most? It makes sense to start with the college degree of your choice! Explore the college majors that give you the best chance of earning a six-figure salary.
How to Earn a Six-Figure Salary
First things first, we uncover the well-known secrets of high earners.
Be educated.
Get the skills or education required for the job path you want to pursue. It may involve attending college, completing a specialized training program, self-learning, or enrolling in a vocational school. Typically, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for many high-paying employment, so choose the right major and the most suitable college.
Work harder than others—and stay positive about the results.
When the goal is to earn six digits, there won’t be any room for slacking off. Gain the skills to help you navigate the bumps toward a high-earning career.
Excel from the get-go.
As soon as your career starts, give it all you’ve got. Maintain positive working ties with your supervisors and coworkers as you keep searching for methods to contribute to the success of your organization.
Earn additional credentials.
Pursue certifications and get additional credentials; it pays to become a lifelong learner! Work toward a graduate degree, enroll in new courses, and gain more experience that will ultimately get you promoted.
Broaden your network.
Establish business connections within your sector. Grab opportunities to connect with people who share your interests, such as those in groups on professional networking sites or organizations dedicated to your field.
Consider side gigs.
Explore other avenues to boost your income, but be prepared for more stressful, longer work hours. Consider freelance work should your employer allow it and your schedule permits. Entry-level freelancing projects can mean good pay and valuable work experience.
15 Six-figure College Degrees
Data Science
A Data Science degree enables graduates to solve multifaceted problems and make data-driven recommendations using their expertise in computer science and mathematics. Bachelor’s programs in Data Science are offered by reputable colleges and universities, offering courses and training to meet the high demand.
Data scientists examine unprocessed data to extract valuable insights that might enhance organizational performance. Among the duties associated with the job include data cleansing, data modeling, and algorithm development for pattern recognition in massive datasets.
Data scientists have to be somewhat proficient in probability, statistics, and some programming languages.
Average Salary: $103,500
Real Estate Management
Students who finish a Bachelor’s in Real Estate Management program are expected to have a thorough grasp of the concepts, ideas, and methods utilized in business management, sales, economics, marketing, and finance as they relate to the real estate sector.
Passing a licensing exam and working for a real estate broker are prerequisites for becoming a real estate agent who complies with local laws and licensing regulations that differ from state to state.
Real estate is a stable market! Brokers can become six-figure earners, with commissions remaining obstinately high and selling for millions of dollars. Buying and selling homes in a region with high pricing, such as larger cities, increases your chances of earning a six-figure commission.
Average Salary: depends on State ($111,800 in New York)
Human Resources Management
A human resource management major is adept at the legal and regulatory requirements necessary to provide employees with a warm, supportive work environment.
Every business needs HR specialists, which means graduates with the right academic background and critical thinking, analysis, leadership, and communication skills are easily employable.
Leading the Human Resources department, HR managers ensure that employees behave or perform as expected and based on policies. HR managers also oversee the welfare of employees. The goal is for organizations to ensure productivity, reduce risk, and maximize return on investment.
Average Salary: $130,000
Business and Business-related Degrees
The following business-related degrees allow you to get promoted to the chief executive position:
Business
As you study a business program, you will gain an understanding of fundamental business ideas and organizational methods from this extensive business education. Having a business degree might help you become ready for a lot of different jobs, especially top management or leadership positions.
Finance
Future CEOs are better able to comprehend the financial side of their work with a degree in Finance. Finance majors observe trends and forecasts in the financial industry. When a CEO is making important financial choices for the firm, these abilities might come in handy.
Management
Your leadership and decision-making skills can be strengthened by majoring in Management. This major may be highly beneficial to an aspiring CEO, as this is a required skill that a CEO should have. A Management degree also demonstrates your eagerness to take on top roles right away and might help you be promoted—a crucial step on the road to becoming a chief executive officer.
Communications
Professionals with a degree in Communications are trained to use efficient communication strategies in the fields of business, law, and media. Students study a wide range of subjects in their coursework, including business, marketing, sociology, and journalism.
Business-related majors qualify for Chief Executive Officer positions. CEOs are in charge of an organization’s general operations and direction. Working with lower-level executives and managers, the task varies according to the industry and the standards set by the board of directors or stakeholders in their organization.
Average Salary: $246,440
Computer Systems Analytics
A Bachelor’s in Computer Systems Analytics features courses in operating systems, statistics, data structures, computer programming, networking, and project management.
With a graduate degree, students dig into the business or scientific aspects of the field, allowing them to design computer systems. Students typically take specialized courses for added credentials.
Computer systems analysts plan and implement often-complicated computer systems businesses use to run their operations. A combination of technical and commercial competence is needed in this type of work.
The majority of analysts, whether they work in science, engineering, accounting, finance, or healthcare, have specific knowledge in the fields for which they build solutions.
Average Salary: $107,530
Anesthesiology
Anesthesiology is the area of medicine that focuses on perioperative pain management or pain control before, during, or after surgery.
Anesthesiology students must acquire a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. A total of 12 years is the typical timeline for completing an Anesthesiology education from bachelor’s to doctorate.
The rigorous training of an anaesthesiologist involves gaining in-depth knowledge in essential areas, including pharmacokinetics or the way a medication affects the body—and pharmacodynamics or the way a drug affects the body.
Anesthesiologists need to be knowledgeable on neuroanatomy, mechanical ventilation, several physiological function monitors, and other general medical topics, in addition to Pharmacology.
Average Salary: $302,970
Marketing Management
A crucial aspect of business is marketing management, which consists of planning, carrying out, and supervising the programs necessary to advertise a company’s goods and services. Whether a firm is for-profit or nonprofit, marketing is an essential component of both.
To increase sales, marketing managers position and market a brand or the particular goods or services that a business provides. They determine the best strategies for boosting sales and brand recognition, conduct market research, and run marketing campaigns.
While some marketers work as managers, others are independent contractors who answer to a manager of sales or marketing.
Average: $158,280
Psychiatry
Unlike Psychology, Psychiatry is a medical discipline that requires a Medical degree for practice. While psychologists seek a Ph. D., those interested in a career in psychiatry enroll in medical school after completing a bachelor’s program.
Psychiatrists who have completed medical school are more equipped to treat patients with mental, behavioral, psychological, and cognitive health problems. Most psychiatrists practice their profession with a doctor of medicine degree and a specialization in psychiatry.
Psychiatrists treat patients with mental health issues. When appropriate, they send patients to other medical professionals after assessing symptoms, diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing drugs, and monitoring treatment outcomes.
Average Salary: $247,350
Aviation Management
A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aviation Management or Aviation Business Administration can lead to a six-figure income. The degree program typically takes three to five years to complete, during which time students study business management, technology, and the human component of aviation as a profession.
Other courses include Business Law, Community Service, Financial Accounting, Business Statistics, and Aviation Marketing.
If you want to become a pilot, earn a Bachelor’s in Aviation degree. Throughout the program, you will study the many aspects of a flight in-depth while also gaining a theoretical and practical perspective of the profession.
Courses include Aviation Studies, Management, and Business, equipping graduates for jobs in airline management, aircraft production, professional piloting, and airport consulting, among other fields.
The profession also entails passing Aviation examinations and meeting licensure requirements.
Average Salary: $148,900
Computer Science
Earning a Bachelor’s in Computer Science can help you prepare for some of the most high-paying careers in the US! You can pursue cyber security, web development, or software development careers upon graduation. You can even progress into a specialized job or leadership role with a master’s degree.
A computer scientist develops new software, analyzes trends, and applies professional technical knowledge to solve problems for enterprises. These technical specialists need to comprehend ideas in areas like sophisticated mathematics, physics, and computer languages.
Computer Science majors are taught to develop or launch apps, programs, and software. They work closely with a team of tech experts and gain employment in a variety of information and technology-related fields.
Average Salary: $136,620
Surgery
A Bachelor of Surgery degree program is the first step towards obtaining the education needed to work as a medical surgeon. You will complete Biotechnology, Anatomy, Pharmacy, Biology, and Chemistry courses.
For a surgeon to be licensed to practice medicine, they must hold both a medical and a bachelor’s degree. They must first finish an MCAT and earn a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in medical school. Most prospective surgeons have completed undergraduate concentrations in human physiology, biochemistry, or biology.
Besides performing surgery, the surgeon is responsible for the patient’s postoperative care and treatment. As a team leader, the surgeon leads the entire operation. The majority of prospective surgeons take at least 13 years to complete their training.
Average Salary: $229,300
Optometry
Doctor of Optometry is a four-year graduate program intended exclusively for those who provide visual health care. Courses include advanced Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Biochemistry, and Human Anatomy.
As a primary care physician, an optometrist demonstrates expertise in examining patients’ eyes, prescribing contact lenses and spectacles to improve vision, identifying eye conditions and illnesses, and therapy. Patients diagnosed with underlying eye disorders can turn to optometrists for minor surgery.
Average Salary: $125,590
Cyber Security
Cybersecurity involves the development or implementation of Information systems and procedures that thwart dangers to cyber infrastructure systems. Students learn security concepts and practices to analyze, assess, and maintain functional systems so they are kept at their optimal levels and free from threats.
Cybersecurity professionals include information security analysts and cybersecurity specialists in charge of creating, maintaining, protecting, and building safe computer networks and systems. as well as attacking and exploiting adversarial computer networks.
Cybercrime investigators assist with counterterrorism and law enforcement initiatives.
Average Salary: $112,000
Political Science
A Political Science degree program develops knowledge of policy formulation and review, diplomatic interactions, and the government. Foreign language proficiency is also a unique skill that is helpful to political science majors, particularly in international politics.
If you want to become a lawyer, earn a JD degree after completing a Bachelor’s in Political Science program. Law and Political Science require a solid grasp of logic, human behavior, and the ability to see issues from multiple perspectives.
Another career option is policy analysis. The public and private sectors can employ policy analysts to assess the impact of governmental policies. Reports produced by policy analysis are used by federal, state, and local governments, as well as private entities, for decision-making.
Average Salary: $129,020
Software Engineering
Rooted in Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, the Software Engineering degree program features courses in Software Architecture, Software Validation and Testing, and Complex Data Structures. The program shares common topics with Computer Science or Cyber Security courses.
Software Engineering is now essential to modern life, with services that are relevant to many industries, including health care, banking, education, security, and the government. A software engineer’s job scope is broad and highly demanding. It requires hard and soft skills.
Average Salary: $124,200
Summary
Earning a degree can significantly increase an individual’s earning potential, and there are certain degrees that can lead to six-figure salaries. Some of these degrees include engineering, computer science, and healthcare-related fields.
Graduates with these degrees often secure high-paying jobs in industries such as technology, finance, and healthcare, making them well-equipped to build successful and lucrative careers.
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