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Info on Degree and Entry Level Pay

T

TheodoreRoosevelt

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Mar 21, 2006
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I can't really figure out what to major in. I have a few ideas, but it's still pretty gray. Ultimately, I am in school to get a high paying job.

I was wondering if anyone could supply links talking about what degrees are hot, what is the entry level pay for all the degrees, et cetera.

Thanks.

I know it's a big question, but just wondering if I could see what the average pay for entry level first year job for all the degrees are and similar info.
 
Virtually all of those on the list require grad school or many years of experience or both.


For entry level positions the highest paying majors are Electrical Eng, Industrial Eng, Chem Eng, Computer Science/ Comp Engineering/Information Systems and the more challenging business majors like Finance and Accounting or International Biz.

Basically majors that involve more math and science pay more at the entry level.
 
^^

Thanks for the brilliant tip there. 8):\

As has been stated previously, Engineering or Finance are pretty much where the money is coming straight out of college. Especially here in Australia where we have a skills shortage. They love Engineering grads at the moment :)

CB :)
 
Chaos Butterfly said:
^^

Thanks for the brilliant tip there. 8):\

As has been stated previously, Engineering or Finance are pretty much where the money is coming straight out of college. Especially here in Australia where we have a skills shortage. They love Engineering grads at the moment :)

CB :)
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You know what my dad says about engineering...

"When you become an engineer, they give you just enough money to get out of poverty...and keep you there"
 
In Canada, plumbers (last time I checked) have the highest wages.

I think they avareged $60/hour, and there aren't enough of them so they're always in high demand.
 
Engineering/Comp. Sci/IT + Business degree = mad lootz as management.

Jamshyd said:
In Canada, plumbers (last time I checked) have the highest wages.

I think they avareged $60/hour, and there aren't enough of them so they're always in high demand.
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seeing as how some lawyers bill @ hundreds per hour....
 
hashish2020 said:
You know what my dad says about engineering...

"When you become an engineer, they give you just enough money to get out of poverty...and keep you there"
Click to expand...

Heh... that almost definitely was the case.

Not so any more...

Although as an engineer you generally aren't going to be earning really big bucks... unless you go somewhere like the Middle East, or get in with some really high quality tech firm, or stumble into some awesome market niche that you can exploit, but you will make good money :)

CB :)
 
This whole thread is pointless. Picking a major based on the expected payout is the worst idea ever. Do you dream of someday being a miserable rich guy? Because that's what will happen if you go into engineering and realize you actually hate it. That is, if you get that far. I cannot imagine anybody succeeding in an engineering program unless they actually like engineering. The same goes for Finance and Computer Science.

So you want to earn money?

Doctors make great money, and it doesn't matter what your undergrad major is. You can major in creative writing and then go to medical school. Lawyers make great money, and law school does not care what your undergrad major is. This is YOUR life. Think about what you are good at....what skills you have....your personality....and try to see what fits.

If you are a very intuitive, conceptual thinker with great attention to detail and a math-addict, you'd probably love engineering.

If you love investigation and problem-solving...and get a kick out of making people healthy, you'd make a good doctor.

Try to do some thinking about what you want to be doing for the rest of your life. Don't think about the maximum amount of dollars you can earn at the earliest possible time, that is ridiculous.

Ultimately, I am in school to get a high paying job.
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No, ultimately you are in school to become a productive member of society, doing something that you enjoy and are good at.

Like in the other thread...
But dont people realise that all the $$ you may make will not make up for the unhappiness in selecting a career you hate? Yes you may be able to afford the new TV and flash car, but in doing this arnt you just joining the list of people waking up everyday like robots. Shouldnt be there more of a push for students to select degrees which they enjoy, see a future in and where they can contribute positively rather than just looking at the monetary benefits?
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yeah I was going to be graduating as a double in computer science & computer system engineering, wouldve been set with something like that

but I dropped it all to do IT majoring in computing and multimedia. . half computer science, half multimedia type degree.

Now I won't get shit in comparison when I graduate; but I'll be doing something I enjoy at least.
 
I would have to agree that any student should select his/her major based on what they enjoy, for all of the aforementioned reasons.

Here is a little twist to the question though. I am a biochemistry major, and I will be graduating in two years. I love biochemistry, and I think I would be fine working in a lab for a while, even if I was not allowed to design my own experiments. I have thought about getting a job immediately following graduation, as it would be nice to put the books down and actually apply some of my skill for a few years. If I do this, I will give up years that I could be making more money had I gone straight to a PhD or Masters degree. I am not basing my career choice on monetary concerns, but I am having a difficult time deciding if I want to get payed like shit for a while (still better than being a college student) or blaze through school while I am used to being really, really poor. Any suggestions?
 
^^^
My friend was a biochem major and he got a job right out of undergrad with a company called SIGA, they developed the "smallpox vaccine" that we all heard about a while back.

However, he played no role in "discovering" anything...he told me that he is basically a lab rat. Somebody tells him what experiments to run, and he does them.

I think he makes like $18/hour.

As far as getting through school while you are used to being poor...that does seem like a good idea. If you are set on getting your PhD, then do it. Maybe it would help to get some experience first though. One year, even two is not going to make a big difference, I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Well I'm a biochemist (B. Applied Science) in Australia for Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology... the entry level pay I got out of the degree was $22.40/hr... although since I only work casual on weekends/nights (since I'm still studying) I haven't recieved any payrise.

There are couple of biochemists and medical scientists in our lab in excess of $50/hr... although they worked fulltime straight out of their undergrad for a number of years.
 
So how would the job prospects be if I wanted to work in a lab immediately following graduation? The only problem I could see is that it would take a little while to find a job, and I want to be able to start a job immediately following graduation so I don't delay getting my PhD. I will be graduating from the honors program when I receive my biochemistry degree, so hopefully that will help my chances (or does that even matter?).
 
Top 10 Best Jobs from CNNMoney.com

Seeking out a lucrative career is not a bad idea, but doing something you completely hate in return for a big paycheck is a bad idea. In other words, you have to like what you're doing at least a bit.
 
Well over in Australia nearly all basic pathology services are outsourced to private companies, mainly SN pathology, QML and Gribbles pathology.

I won't lie, the large majority of biochemistry majors over here are pretty shoved in with the medical scientists... performing histopathology largely for the said 3 companies + various hospitals. I think the figures are well above 60-70% for students ALREADY having jobs before the end of their final year.

This is Australia though, so I'm not sure if biochemistry in the US prepares graduates for performing histopathology straight out of university.
 
^^^
Your options with a biochemistry degree are pretty wide open. You could work in a private lab, for a university, go to med school...pretty much anything. You had better love science though.

What do you mean by histopathology?
 
I dont understand why so many people choose degrees based on what they get paid. Sure money may get you a lot... but it doesnt buy happiness. What use is tons of money if you sit at home every night miserable, and every day in a job you hate?

Now working where you are comfortable, and doing what you love? PRICELESS.
 
I'll pick my job based on the list. I'm sure something on there I'll like.

And no. I'm at college for money, blahblahblah. I detest that do what you love philosophy. My take, is do what you can stand for the best money and best time, and then in your free time, do what you love. Key is that do what you can stand, so there isn't much difference really between the two takes, but it is a different approach.

Because of this, maybe I should major in Business. Whatever.

Anyways, I was thinking either Economics or Business. I like Economics alot. I haven't done any business courses but people say I'd like it and it's alot like Econ apparently.

Or something like Biology. I haven't taken enough science (or enough econ/business) to really decide, but one of those two paths I think is where I'm gonna go.

I was suprised I didn't see Economics mentioned since that is a hot topic as a major in the news and alot of magazines recently (Econ magazines, go figure).
 
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