Salaries by Discipline

[imoldernu]

Some interesting numbers on salary ranges by majors/profession/discipline, as they have evolved over the years.
America's Most Popular And Best-Paying Majors | Zero Hedge

Current ranges.

 

[38Chevy454]

I think these are low for some, but it does point out that Engineering and Computer Science pays a lot more than liberal arts. The interesting thing to see is what rate do these starting salaries go up at? In my experience, engineers are paid high out of school, but then the slope is very low for increases; whereas business starts lower, but increases at higher rate. A bit interesting that math and science are so low starting? Must be a supply and demand issue.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I think these are low for some, but it does point out that Engineering and Computer Science pays a lot more than liberal arts.

One of our kid's joke is that his parents always encouraged him to do what he loved, between engineering or computer science, he could pick whatever major he loved the most.

 

[JoeWras]

Be aware that engineering and computer science are becoming globalized and it is having an effect which will eventually show up on these results.

Also, like actors, there are always the "1% ers" you hear the most about (those who cash in on startups, etc.) But there are a lot of rank and filers out there with flat and declining wages due to the globalization.

This especially affects those disciplines that can be easily done from afar, such as programming.

 

[2B]

One of our kid's joke is that his parents always encouraged him to do what he loved, between engineering or computer science, he could pick whatever major he loved the most.

That's pretty much what I did with my math/science inclined son only I also specified the branches of engineering to pick from. Civil Engineers get paid much less than Chemical Engineers.

Engineering salaries go up with experience but the real gains come from engineers moving into management. I'm no longer a manager but am ranked as a very senior engineer with a firm unrelated to the firms I was a manager in. I'm making about 2 1/2 times the current starting salaries for chemical engineers. There are people considered technology experts that make a bit more than I do.

 

[Which Roger]

It's interesting to see that although engineering and computer science majors make the most money, less than 10% of college degrees in the US are in these fields. It would be interesting to see the numbers for countries like India and China.

 

[38Chevy454]

There are a lot of H1 visas being issued to get engineering/computer science immigrants in to work the supposed shortage of US degreed Eng/CS. Which has the bad effect of lowering salaries for home-grown degreed individuals. Like a lot of things, this is a result of globalization and technology. However I also think it is a result of companies seeing a pool of lower cost workers.

The US did fall behind, but there is new emphasis on STEM curriculum in schools, hopefully that can increase the number of technical oriented students.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

That's pretty much what I did with my math/science inclined son only I also specified the branches of engineering to pick from. Civil Engineers get paid much less than Chemical Engineers.

We actually never really gave our kids only those two choices, they just joke about our emphasis on ROI on college investment because they have friends now graduating with debt and no job prospects, and they are glad to not be in that spot. So it took a few years, but for once they kind of see now that not all our advice is totally useless.

It is like the Mark Twain quote, "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years"

 

[2B]

We actually never really gave our kids only those two choices, they just joke about our emphasis on ROI on college investment because they have friends now graduating with debt and no job prospects, and they are glad to not be in that spot. So it took a few years, but for once they kind of see now that not all our advice was totally useless.

It is like the Mark Twain quote, "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years"

I gave my son the choice of chemical, mechanical or electrical engineering based on his favorite subjects. Civil engineering was left out because it is typically a low paying field except for principals in engineering firms. Most engineering branches, other than electrial, are related to chemical and mechanical engineering which make life more flexible. Having a degree in those lets you move easier between the fields. I'm a chemical engineer but I've also worked in plastics, petroleum and process industries.

My wife overheard my oldest daughter talking to her younger sister when she was being "helped" by me with her college choices. My oldest daughter told her to listen to me because I know what I'm talking about. That was a shock since I had gone around and around with her when she was starting college. My son was much less trouble than his sisters.