Estimate your salary potential based on college major. Compare starting and mid-career salaries across fields to make informed choices.
Your choice of college major is one of the biggest factors influencing your future earnings. Starting salaries for bachelor's degree holders range from roughly $35,000 for education and social work majors to $75,000+ for computer science and engineering graduates. Mid-career differences are even larger.
This calculator helps you estimate salary potential based on your chosen or contemplated major. By entering your field and experience level, you can project earnings over time and compare against other fields. This isn't destiny — individual outcomes vary widely — but it provides a data-grounded starting point for career planning.
Use this tool alongside the Degree ROI Calculator to see how your major choice affects the overall financial value of your education.
Students, parents, and educators all gain valuable perspective from precise salary by major data when planning academic paths, managing workloads, or setting realistic performance goals. Return to this calculator each semester or grading period to stay on top of evolving academic targets.
Choosing between majors without salary data is like investing blindly. This calculator shows you realistic earnings projections by field, helping you balance passion with financial pragmatism. Even small differences in starting salary compound into large gaps over a 40-year career. Real-time results let you test different scenarios instantly, helping you set achievable goals and build an effective plan for academic success.
Projected Salary (year n) = Starting Salary × (1 + Annual Growth)^n Career Earnings = Σ Starting Salary × (1 + Growth)^i for i = 0 to career horizon
Result: $4.98M lifetime earnings
Computer science starting at $75,000 with 5% annual growth over 30 years produces approximately $4.98 million in cumulative career earnings. A social work major starting at $38,000 with 3% growth over the same period earns about $1.80 million.
Bachelor's degree starting salaries span a wide range. At the high end: petroleum engineering ($80K+), computer science ($75K+), and electrical engineering ($70K+). In the middle: business ($55K), biology ($40K), and communications ($40K). At the lower end: education ($38K), social work ($35K), and fine arts ($33K). These gaps widen significantly at mid-career.
Salary growth isn't uniform across majors. Technology and finance professionals often see 5–7% annual growth, while education and nonprofit workers may see 2–3%. Over 30 years, a 2% growth difference turns a $10,000 starting salary gap into a $1M+ cumulative gap. Growth rate is arguably more important than starting salary.
The best approach combines self-assessment (what are you good at and enjoy?), salary research (what does the field pay?), and market analysis (is the field growing?). This calculator handles the salary projection component, helping you see the long-term financial implications of your major choice.
Computer science (~$75K), engineering (~$70K), and nursing (~$60K) consistently rank highest. Finance and accounting are also strong at $55–65K. These figures are national medians and vary by location and employer.
Not necessarily. Many careers are open to graduates from various majors. However, some fields require specific degrees (engineering, nursing, accounting). For flexible fields like business and tech, the major provides a starting point but doesn't limit your path.
No. Job satisfaction, aptitude, and interest matter enormously. Students who hate their major often switch or underperform, negating the salary premium. Choose a field you're good at and interested in that also has reasonable earning potential.
National averages are useful benchmarks but mask huge variation. The top 25% of any major earns significantly more than the bottom 25%. Your individual outcomes depend on skills, location, employer, and effort more than group averages.
Yes, substantially for some fields. An MBA can boost business salaries by 50–100%. A master's in CS can add $10–20K. However, for engineering, a bachelor's already provides strong earnings, and the ROI of a master's is more marginal.
Data science, cybersecurity, and AI/ML are examples of newer fields with explosive demand and high salaries. However, be cautious of niche majors with narrow job markets. Broad, versatile degrees provide more career flexibility.