What are the most lucrative careers for college grads?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior trying to figure out what to study in college. So I'm wondering, what are the most lucrative careers for college grads right now? I am considering STEM fields, but I am open to other areas like business or law. Any insights?

It's great that you're thinking about potential areas of study. As for the most lucrative careers, several do emerge from the STEM fields, business, and law, but there are other high-paying careers as well.

In STEM, careers like Petroleum Engineering, Computer Science, Actuarial Mathematics, and Statistics often come with higher starting and mid-career salaries. For example, Petroleum Engineers tend to earn high salaries due to demand in the energy sector, and the scarcity of qualified individuals in the field.

For business, surprisingly, Economics can lead to high salaries. That's because economics majors find jobs in finance, business, law, public policy, and a variety of other sectors. Marketing, Accounting, and Finance also lead to lucrative careers.

For Law, keep in mind you would have to go to law school after your bachelor's degree. However, if you're interested in law, you can major in anything you want in college—there is no recommended pre-law major.

Outside of STEM, business, and law, fields like Nurse Anesthesia, Political Science, and International Relations can also lead to high-paying careers.

However, remember that your choice should be a balance between your interests, your skill sets, and the career prospects in those areas. High earning potential does not necessarily equate to job satisfaction. It's always beneficial to choose a career that aligns more with your interests as that would keep you motivated and happy in the long run. Also, keep in mind that the highest average salaries usually come with more years of education like Master's degrees, doctoral degrees, or professional certificates.