Some work for money. Some enter an occupation because they love the work.
If money is the goal, select a college major in the sciences and, particularly, engineering.
If wages aren’t the primary reward, head for employment in the arts or in human service.
These are the conclusions of a 2009 PayScale Inc. salary survey for full-time U.S. employees with a bachelor’s degree.
*Engineers pocket big checks*
Top earnings go to engineers, with eight engineering specialties among the top 10 wages. Highest paid major is chemical engineering ($65,700). Lowest pay checks go to graduates in social work ($33,400), elementary education ($33,000), theology (34,800), music ($34,000), fine arts ($35,800) and drama ($35,600).
Out of 75 undergraduate college majors, business administration ($42,900) came in 35th, behind degrees in occupational therapy ($61,300) and information technology ($49,400).
Here are median annual wages for those who graduate with a major in English ($37,800), accounting ($46,500), graphic design ($36,000), architecture ($42,900), journalism, ($36,300), agriculture ($40,900), political science ($41,300), advertising ($36,900) and criminal justice ($35,900).
Entry-level wages for careers in this country average around $43,000 a year. Bank on 5 figures to start
If $50,000 in the first year sounds right, here are 10 occupations with beginning earnings at or above
$50,000, according to Yahoo! Education online:
• Marketing and sales manager ($80,000)
• High school teacher ($59,269)
• Education administrator ($80,000)
• Staff RN ($63,803)
• Network systems and data communications analyst ($53,000)
• Computer software engineer ($58,900)
• Physical therapist ($61,478)
• Restaurant manager ($53,255)
• Web designer ($51,931)
• Financial analyst ($84,000)
Other high-paying, in-demand professions are in accounting, petroleum engineering, pharmacy and railroads, according to HireDiversity.com.
_STARTING MEDIAN SALARY OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE_
Aerospace engineering $59,600
Chemical engineering $65,700
Computer engineering $61,700
Electrical engineering $60,200
Economics $50,200
Physics $51,100
Mechanical engineering $58,900
Computer science $56,400
Industrial engineering $57,100
Environmental engineering $53,400
Statistics $48,600
Biochemistry $41,700
Mathematics $47,000
Civil engineering $55,100
Construction management $53,400
Finance $48,500
Management information systems $51,900
Computer & info systems $50,900
Geology $45,100
Chemistry $42,900
Marketing $41,500
International relations $41,400
Industrial technology $49,500
Environmental science $43,300
Architecture $42,900
International business $41,900
Accounting $46,500
Political science $41,300
Urban planning $43,300
Philosophy $40,000
Information technology $49,400
Zoology $37,000
Occupational therapy $61,300
Microbiology $39,800
Business administration. $42,900
Business management $43,300
Advertising $36,900
Biology $39,500
Film production $38,200
Landscape architecture $43,100
History $38,800
Health sciences $37,800
Geography $40,400
Nursing $54,900
Communications $38,700
Radio and television $34,000
English $37,800
Agriculture $40,900
Hotel business management $37,400
Journalism $36,300
Forestry $39,700
Anthropology $37,600
Fashion design $36,700
Public relations $36,700
Art history $36,300
Health care administration $37,900
Psychology $36,000
Interior design $35,700
Human resources $37,800
Graphic design $36,000
Criminal justice $35,900
Medical technology $46,600
Foods and nutrition $41,700
Sociology $36,500
Religious studies $35,300
Drama $35,600
Fine arts $35,800
Hospitality and tourism $37,000
Education $36,200
Horticulture $37,200
Spanish $35,600
Music $34,000
Theology $34,800
Elementary education $33,000
Social work $33,400
Source — © PayScale Inc.
_Linda Gaber is a copywriter and coordinator of JobsWeekly for the Denver Newspaper Agency._