The Highest-Paying Business Majors (2024)

Graduates who major in business analytics earn the most ($66,000 on average per year) early on in their careers. For mid-career wages, finance and economics are the top earners ($100,000 on average per year), according to new data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

WORST-EARNING BUSINESS MAJORS

Among business majors, business management and communications earned the lowest starting and mid salaries. Business management grads, on average, earned $46,000 early career, while communications grads, on average, pulled in $47,000. Both earned $75,000 by mid-career.

METHODOLOGY

The Federal Reserve used 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine unemployment and underemployment rates for recent college grads aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Underemployment is defined as “a measure of employment and labor utilization in the economy that looks at how well the labor force is being used in terms of skills, experience, and availability to work.”

Median wage data was calculated for full-time workers with a bachelor's degree only. Early career graduates are those aged 22 to 27, and mid-career graduates are those aged 35 to 45.

ENGINEERING MAJORS MAKE THE MOST OVERALL

If you’re looking to make a high salary, you should probably consider majoring in an engineering field. Engineering grads landed the highest salaries—across both early and mid-career—with chemical engineering grads holding the highest salary at $75,000 early-career and $120,000 mid-career.

Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, CNBC, Investopedia

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The Highest-Paying Business Majors (2024)

FAQs

Which major in business makes the most money? ›

The highest-paying business degrees include fields such as finance, management information systems (MIS), accounting, marketing, and supply chain management, among others.

What is the highest paying job in business? ›

What are the top 5 highest paying jobs? The top 5 highest paying jobs in business often include CEO, investment banker, finance director, management consultant, and business analyst. These roles offer competitive salaries and the potential for significant earnings.

Can I make 100k a year with a business degree? ›

Graduates who major in business analytics earn the most ($66,000 on average per year) early on in their careers. For mid-career wages, finance and economics are the top earners ($100,000 on average per year), according to new data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

What is the number #1 highest paying major? ›

College majors that pay the most for mid-career workers
1.Chemical engineering$133K
2.Computer engineering$125K
3.Aerospace engineering$120K
4.Electrical engineering$112K
5.Mechanical engineering$111K
11 more rows
Mar 14, 2024

What major gets paid the most? ›

No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least.

Can business majors make 6 figures? ›

Chief executives, IT managers, and marketing managers make the most money on average among all business jobs according to the BLS. There are 8 bachelor's in business administration programs in the U.S. whose graduates make 6-figure salaries just 4 years after leaving school.

What is the top 1 highest paying job? ›

Top 10 Best Paying Jobs in India in 2024:-
  • Commercial Pilots.
  • Doctors and Surgeons.
  • Data Scientists.
  • Blockchain Developers.
  • Full Stack Developers.
  • Investment Bankers.
  • Chartered Accountants.
  • Machine Learning Engineers.
Apr 25, 2024

What is the number 1 job that pays the most? ›

Physicians and surgeons report the highest salaries in the U.S., with pediatric surgeons earning the highest mean wage at nearly $450,000 per year, the BLS reports. Cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists and surgeons also rank among the highest-paid occupations in the country.

What businesses pay the best? ›

What companies pay highest salaries? Companies that typically pay the highest salaries often include technology giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, as well as financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.

What 2 year degree pays the most? ›

The Highest-Paying Jobs You Can Get With an Associate Degree
  • Radiation Therapist. ...
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist. ...
  • Dental Hygienist. ...
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. ...
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist. ...
  • Avionics Technician. ...
  • Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician. ...
  • Funeral Home Manager.
Nov 21, 2023

Are business degrees still worth it? ›

Is It Worth It? The Choice Comes Down To Your Career Aspirations. If you are a working professional who wants to advance your career in business, a business degree can be a gamechanger. A business degree can increase job prospects, create advancement opportunities, and increase your salary and lifetime income.

What is the best 4 year degree to get? ›

What Are the Highest-Paying Bachelor's Degrees?
  • Actuarial Mathematics. ...
  • Computer Science. ...
  • Business Computing. ...
  • Electrical Engineering. ...
  • Industrial Engineering. ...
  • Operations Research. ...
  • Applied Economics and Management. ...
  • Public Accounting. Public accountants create tax returns and financial statements for individuals and organizations.

What major makes you the richest? ›

Top 7 degrees that make the most millionaires
  • Engineering.
  • Economics/Finance.
  • Politics.
  • Mathematics.
  • Computer Science.
  • Law.
  • MBA.
4 days ago

What is the #1 major in the US? ›

Business is the most common major, with nearly one-fifth of all bachelor's degree recipients choosing this path. Business majors include several areas of study, such as business administration, management, and marketing.

What business majors make the most money? ›

15 highest-paying business majors
  1. Marketing. A business degree in marketing allows you to develop analytical skills in product merchandising, consumer behavior and effective campaign organization. ...
  2. International business. ...
  3. Accounting. ...
  4. Logistics. ...
  5. Finance. ...
  6. Investments and securities. ...
  7. Human resource management. ...
  8. E-commerce.
Jul 31, 2023

What is the most profitable field of business? ›

While profitability depends on a variety of factors, including the popularity of different products or types of services in your area. But the retail, financial and healthcare industries are some of the most profitable businesses you can start.

Which job or business has highest salary? ›

Therefore, here is a list of the 10 best-paying jobs with the highest salaries:
  • Management Consultants.
  • Civil Servants.
  • Commercial Pilots.
  • Doctors and Surgeons.
  • Data Scientists.
  • Blockchain Developers.
  • Full Stack Developers.
  • Investment Bankers.
Apr 25, 2024

What's the easiest degree that makes the most money? ›

Top 15 Quick Degrees That Pay Well
  1. Business Administration. A bachelor of business administration is one of the most popular undergraduate degrees. ...
  2. Communications. ...
  3. Criminal Justice. ...
  4. English. ...
  5. Finance. ...
  6. Healthcare Administration. ...
  7. History. ...
  8. Human Resources.

Is it worth it to major in business? ›

If you are a working professional who wants to advance your career in business, a business degree can be a gamechanger. A business degree can increase job prospects, create advancement opportunities, and increase your salary and lifetime income. It's a worthwhile investment in your career—now and into the future.

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