Which college majors earn most (and least) money after graduation? What federal data shows

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman

Graduation is just around the corner for millions of high school seniors, meaning many of them will soon have to seriously consider which major to choose in college.

To earn money right after college, it might help to know ahead of time which majors pay and don't pay.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently compiled labor market outcomes by breaking them down by college majors.

The data includes unemployment and underemployment rates, early career and mid-career median incomes, and whether a graduate degree was attained.

Here's a look at the 10 majors with the lowest pay for recent college graduates, as well as the 10 highest, according to the Federal Reserve Bank:

Majors with low pay for recent grads

Unemployment and underemployment rates were taken from data of those ages 22 to 27 with a bachelor's degree or higher, while median wage numbers are measured among full-time workers with a bachelor's degree only. Mid-career graduates are those aged 35 to 45.

Here are the 10 majors with the lowest pay for recent graduates, sorted from lower to higher:

Liberal arts

  • Early career median wage: $38,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $65,000

  • Unemployment rate: 7.9%

Performing arts

  • Early career median wage: $38,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $64,000

  • Unemployment rate: 5.5%

Theology and religion

  • Early career median wage: $38,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $56,000

  • Unemployment rate: 3.2%

Leisure and hospitality

  • Early career median wage: $39,700

  • Midcareer median wage: $67,000

  • Unemployment rate: 4.1%

Anthropology

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $65,000

  • Unemployment rate: 4.5%

Early childhood education

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $48,000

  • Unemployment rate: 1.9%

Elementary education

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $52,000

  • Unemployment rate: 1.5%

Family and consumer sciences

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $59,000

  • Unemployment rate: 3.1%

Fine arts

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $68,000

  • Unemployment rate: 7.9%

General social sciences

  • Early career median wage: $40,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $70,000

  • Unemployment rate: 0.6%

Majors with high early career pay

Computer engineering

  • Early career median wage: $80,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $125,000

  • Unemployment rate: 2.3%

Chemical engineering

  • Early career median wage: $79,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $133,000

  • Unemployment rate: 2%

Computer science

  • Early career median wage: $78,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $110,000

  • Unemployment rate: 4.3%

Aerospace engineering

  • Early career median wage: $74,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $120,000

  • Unemployment rate: 7.8%

Electrical engineering

  • Early career median wage: $72,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $112,000

  • Unemployment rate: 2.9%

Industrial engineering

  • Early career median wage: $71,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $100,000

  • Unemployment rate: 0.2%

Mechanical engineering

  • Early career median wage: $70,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $111,000

  • Unemployment rate: 1.5%

Miscellaneous engineering

  • Early career median wage: $68,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $100,000

  • Unemployment rate: 2.2%

General engineering

  • Early career median wage: $68,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $100,000

  • Unemployment rate: 3.1%

Finance

  • Early career median wage: $66,000

  • Midcareer median wage: $104,000

  • Unemployment rate: 2.7%

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Which college majors earn the most, least after graduation?

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