As technology continues to evolve, one field seems to have been able to maintain steady demand: engineering thanks to strong demand for technical skills. Engineering majors receive some of the highest pay packages right out of college and are still near the top years later.
According to the latest findings from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, computer engineering, computer science and chemical engineering are the top paying companies for workers between the ages of 22 and 27.
Data is based on 2024 US Census data, the most recent update available. The analysis breaks down the annual salaries of college graduates by major and shows how much full-time workers in the United States earn when their highest education is a bachelor’s degree.
How much do fresh engineering graduates earn annually?
Fresh engineering graduates typically earn around $85,000 or more at the start of their careers. That’s much higher than the typical American income of just over $45,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Although the profession’s median salary seems high, engineering accounts for only 6% of bachelor’s degrees awarded nationally. That number represents a relatively small share of all college graduates, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics cited by CNBC.
Top 20 Highest Paying Majors
Here is a list of the top 20 majors that draw the highest salaries for workers aged 22 to 27:
- Computer Engineering: $90,000
- Computer Science: $87,000
- Chemical Engineering: $85,000
- Aeronautical Engineering: $85,000
- Industrial Engineering: $83,000
- Electrical Engineering: $82,000
- Mechanical Engineering: $80,000
- Building Services: $75,000
- Civil Engineering: $75,000
- General Engineering: $75,000
- Miscellaneous Engineering: $75,000
- Economy: $72,000
- Business Analytics: $72,000
- Finance: $70,000
- Math: $70,000
- Nursing: $70,000
- Math: $70,000
- Finance: $70,000
- Accounting: $68,000
- Physics: $67,000
While some experts warn that artificial intelligence could automate parts of engineering work, the broader outlook for the profession remains strong. Artificial intelligence is increasingly reshaping the way certain technical tasks are performed, allowing engineers to work more efficiently.
This trend can already be observed in some major companies. Spotify, for example, revealed on its latest earnings call that some of its best engineers haven’t written a single line of code in months because they now oversee an internal AI tool called Honk that automatically generates and deploys software.
Similarly, during its most recent earnings call, Airbnb described how AI is deeply integrated into its customer support systems, with plans to expand the technology globally.
However, rather than eliminating tasks entirely, many experts argue that AI will change the nature of work and move engineers toward higher-level problem solving, oversight, and system design. In fact, employment in several engineering fields is expected to grow over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mid-career engineers draw a big payday
Engineering majors also pay well because the employee gets more experience in the field. Among graduates aged 35 to 45, every engineering major reports an average salary of at least $100,000, according to New York Fed data.
In contrast, education and arts majors typically earn significantly less overall. Between the ages of 35 and 45, six education majors report median earnings below $60,000, ranking them among the lowest-paying majors in the study.
