The 10 college majors that promise the quickest increase in salary
We’ve highlighted the college majors with the highest starting salaries but which majors will get you a raise soonest?
According to a recent report by Expert Market, which analyzed data from Payscale’s 2016-2017 College Salary Report, those studying math or media and communications are in luck they can expect to earn about 80% more than their starting salary after 10 years on the job:
Expert Market then looked at over 200 specific majors to determine which ones offer the fastest salary progression 10 years after graduating.
When broken down by subject, the report threw up some interesting and quite unexpected findings, Karla McDougall of Expert Market reports. Despite not being a career well known for its high earnings potential, students who major in Aviation Management claimed the top spot.
Read on to see which other degrees join aviation management in the top 10.
You may notice that some majors are very similar (physics and physics and mathematics, for example) PayScale separates these majors to distinguish the students that double majored or did integrated degrees.
Physics
Average starting salary: $55,100
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $108,000
Percent increase: 96%
Applied mathematics
Average starting salary: $56,100
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $110,000
Percent increase: 96%
Physics and mathematics
Average starting salary: $56,200
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $111,000
Percent increase: 98%
William Taufic | Getty Images
Molecular biology
Average starting salary: $45,500
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $90,100
Percent increase: 98%
Government and politics
Average starting salary: $44,600
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $90,400
Percent increase: 103%
Marketing and international business
Average starting salary: $45,400
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $94,800
Percent increase: 109%
Hero Images | Getty Images
Government
Average starting salary: $49,600
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $105,000
Percent increase: 112%
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Average starting salary: $46,000
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $97,500
Percent increase: 112%
Telecommunications
Average starting salary: $40,800
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $87,100
Percent increase: 113%
Thomas Barwick | Getty Images
Aviation management
Average starting salary: $41,900
Average salary 10 years after graduating: $90,200
Percent increase: 114%
Avneet
Avneet Kaur is a dedicated writer with a profound commitment to enhancing education across the globe. Through her insightful blogs and articles, she aims to help students achieve their goals by exploring all aspects of learning and introducing new approaches to education. In addition to her focus on education, Avneet has a keen interest in digital media, continually exploring its potential alongside her writing and academic pursuits. Her diverse experiences and innovative ideas are making a significant impact on the way education is perceived and delivered worldwide.
