Master’s Degrees that Attract the Best Jobs and Wages
Higher Education Articles November 14, 2015Below you will get an overview of job titles and type of degrees that will influence your salaries when you’ve earned your master’s degree.
Best Jobs and Wages for those with a Master’s Degree
Research conducted on the subject by PayScale.com in 2013 has enabled Forbes.com to analyze mid-career median wage levels for 35 common master’s degrees and the most common employment opportunities for holders of one of these degrees. The mid-career professionals considered by Forbes.com for the compilation were 43 years old on average and boasted 15 years of work experience.
The following table list the top master’s degrees ordered by the quantum of wages attracted by holders of these degrees:
| Major | Early Career Pay | Mid-Career Pay |
| Computer Engineering (CE) | $85,000 | $121,000 |
| Computer Science (CS) | $81,200 | $121,000 |
| Computer Science (CS) & Mathematics | $80,000 | $121,000 |
| Materials Science & Engineering | $70,300 | $122,000 |
| Operations Research | $80,300 | $122,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $72,900 | $124,000 |
| Electronics & Communications Engineering | $84,300 | $125,000 |
| Technology Management | $63,600 | $125,000 |
| Biomedical Engineering (BME) | $68,400 | $126,000 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | $78,900 | $126,000 |
| Taxation | $60,700 | $126,000 |
| Computer Science (CS) & Engineering | $89,000 | $127,000 |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) | $80,600 | $128,000 |
| Nurse Anesthesia | $139,000 | $159,000 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $96,500 | $173,000 |
Employment Opportunities and Wage Outlook for Top Three Degrees
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.), Master of Science in Finance (M.S.F.), and Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics are the top three degrees that offer the best jobs and highest wages to the degree holders. The following job opportunities and corresponding wages are available to holders of one of the top three degrees (data is from the 10th through 90th percentiles) (PayScale.com in August 2014).
A holder of a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (M.S.E.E.) can choose to become an electrical engineer and earn wages in the $59,979 – $109,960 range. Alternatively, they may become a software engineer earning in the $59,933 – $112,413 range or a hardware engineer with wages in the range of $68,229 – $111,023.
A holder of a Master of Science in Finance (M.S.F.) can choose to become a financial analyst and earn wages in the $46,727 – $75,893 range. Alternatively, they may become an investment analyst earning in the $51,380 – $78,372 range or a finance manager with wages in the range of $67,187 – $131,778.
A holder of a Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics can choose to become a physicist and earn wages in the $49,329 – $132,704 range. Alternatively, they may become a high school teacher earning in the $30,021 – $119,195 range or a research scientist with wages in the range of $57,708 – $98,278.
