Choosing a major is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, and most students choose it without knowing what graduates in their field earn. This guide uses the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's figures for recent graduates to show what each major pays early in a career, explains what drives the gaps, and shows how to check those numbers against your student loans.
How to read these numbers: the New York Fed reports the median annual wage of full-time workers aged 22 to 27 who hold a bachelor's degree, by major, using Census Bureau American Community Survey data. Across all majors the figure is $58,000. These are actual earnings a few years out, not offer letters, so they run lower than employer surveys of starting offers. For comparison, NACE's Winter 2026 Salary Survey projects average starting offers of $81,535 for computer science and $66,155 for social sciences graduates.
Engineering and computing lead every ranking of early-career pay. Computer engineering and computer science graduates typically start as software developers or systems engineers; mechanical, electrical and civil engineers move into design and project roles. Biology is the exception within STEM.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Computer engineering | $90,000 |
| Computer science | $87,000 |
| Aerospace engineering | $85,000 |
| Chemical engineering | $85,000 |
| Electrical engineering | $82,000 |
| Mechanical engineering | $80,000 |
| Civil engineering | $75,000 |
| Mathematics | $70,000 |
| Physics | $67,000 |
| Biochemistry | $52,000 |
| Chemistry | $50,000 |
| Biology | $45,000 |
Biology sits well below the rest of STEM at the bachelor's level, at $45,000. Most biology graduates who reach high salaries do so through medical, dental, pharmacy or graduate school, which adds years of training and usually more debt. Plan for that path, not the bachelor's figure, if that is where you are headed.
Quantitative business majors earn the most here. Finance, accounting and business analytics graduates often start as analysts or staff accountants; marketing and management outcomes depend more on employer, industry and location.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Business analytics | $72,000 |
| Economics | $72,000 |
| Finance | $70,000 |
| Accounting | $68,000 |
| Information systems | $67,000 |
| Marketing | $60,000 |
| General business | $60,000 |
| Advertising and PR | $60,000 |
| Business management | $56,000 |
Nursing combines strong early pay with steady demand almost everywhere. Psychology and social services start lower at the bachelor's level, and many of their higher-paying jobs require a graduate degree or license.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Nursing | $70,000 |
| Medical technicians | $62,000 |
| Health services | $50,000 |
| Nutrition sciences | $50,000 |
| Treatment therapy | $50,000 |
| Psychology | $45,000 |
| Social services | $43,000 |
Pharmacy shows only $40,000 in the New York Fed data. That reflects bachelor's-level pharmacy science graduates aged 22 to 27; licensed pharmacists need a PharmD, so most of them aren't counted at that age.
Humanities graduates start lower on average, but they also spread across the widest range of careers: law, government, nonprofits, media and business. International affairs and public policy lead this group.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| International affairs | $64,000 |
| Public policy and law | $55,000 |
| Political science | $52,000 |
| Philosophy | $52,000 |
| Communications | $52,000 |
| Sociology | $49,900 |
| Journalism | $49,000 |
| English | $48,000 |
| History | $47,500 |
| Liberal arts | $45,000 |
Education majors cluster at the low end because teacher pay follows public salary schedules, which vary a great deal by state and district. Teachers in public schools can also qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which changes how much debt is manageable on these salaries.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Special education | $46,000 |
| Secondary education | $45,300 |
| Elementary education | $45,000 |
| Early childhood education | $45,000 |
| General education | $45,000 |
Architecture leads this group, though it typically takes a five-year degree and licensure. Graphic design and media graduates often build income through freelance work alongside a salaried job.
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| Major | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Architecture | $60,000 |
| Graphic design | $50,000 |
| Mass media | $50,000 |
| Fine arts | $45,000 |
| Art history | $45,000 |
| Performing arts | $44,000 |
The most useful benchmark for college affordability: your total student loan debt at graduation should not exceed your expected first-year salary. If you plan to earn $55,000, try to keep total debt under $55,000. Go $120,000 into debt for a $40,000/year job, and you will spend most of your twenties and some of your thirties paying it down — with limited resources for anything else.
This rule is not absolute. Teachers with loan debt often qualify for PSLF forgiveness after 10 years, which changes the math entirely. High-demand fields like nursing allow accelerated income growth through overtime and specialty certification. Run your specific numbers rather than relying on the rule alone.
Check whether your expected salary can handle your projected loan balance.
Loan vs Salary Calculator →Starting salary is a snapshot. Career trajectory matters over a 40-year working life. Geography is a major variable — $55,000 in rural Ohio is comfortable; the same salary in San Francisco barely covers rent. Entry-level experience, internships, and certifications can move starting salary meaningfully within any field.
The most important thing these numbers tell you is where the floor is. They set expectations so that your borrowing decision is informed, not hopeful. A student borrowing $100,000 for a field with a $40,000 starting salary deserves to know that number before they sign.
What is the average starting salary for a college graduate? The Federal Reserve Bank of New York puts the median annual wage for full-time bachelor's degree holders aged 22 to 27 at $58,000 across all majors. Employer surveys of starting offers run higher: NACE's Winter 2026 survey projects $81,535 for computer science and $66,155 for social sciences.
Which majors pay the most right out of college? In the New York Fed data, computer engineering ($90,000), computer science ($87,000), and aerospace and chemical engineering ($85,000 each) have the highest early-career median wages.
Which majors pay the least early in a career? Pharmacy at the bachelor's level ($40,000), theology ($41,600), social services ($43,000), and performing arts ($44,000) are at the bottom, followed by a group of education, arts and liberal arts majors at about $45,000.
Does location affect starting salary? Yes. The same job can pay much more in a high-cost metro area than in a lower-cost region, though housing costs often narrow the difference in what the pay actually buys.
Do these figures include signing bonuses? No. The New York Fed figures are annual wages reported in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Signing bonuses and stock awards, common in tech and finance, are not captured as separate items.
Is starting salary the best measure of a major's value? No. It is a snapshot of the first few years. Earnings growth, job security, and whether a graduate degree is needed all matter, and so does how much you borrowed to get the degree.
Student Loan vs Salary Calculator — check your debt load against your expected income.
Degree ROI Calculator — your payback period and lifetime financial return.
Student Loan Calculator — monthly payment and total cost for your loan amount.
Is a College Degree Worth the Debt? — how to calculate your ROI.
How Much Student Loan Debt Is Too Much? — the 1x salary rule explained.