Degree fields with the highest posted pay
Key facts
- #1 Computer science and IT, Field of study: $188k
- #2 Law, Field of study: $175k
- #3 Design and architecture, Field of study: $165k
- 15 degrees ranked across all fields
- Data as of November 2026
- 1Computer science and IT Field of study$188k
- 2Law Field of study$175k
- 3Design and architecture Field of study$165k
- 4Health professions and medicine Field of study$160k
- 5Math and statistics Field of study$153k
- 6Marketing and communications Field of study$152k
- 7Life sciences Field of study$143k
- 8Engineering Field of study$142k
- 9Social sciences and psychology Field of study$140k
- 10Business administration and management Field of study$140k
What stands out
- The top ten is tightly packed: Computer science and IT leads on $188k, and #10 Business administration and management is at $140k.
- Social sciences and psychology reaches #9 on a sample of 376 open jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Business administration and management is the largest market in the top ten, with 62,474 open jobs behind its figure.
- Degrees with fewer than 300 open jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Pay differs by field long before it differs by employer. The median advertised salary by field shows which kinds of degree lead to the best-paid roles on offer today.
How to use it
Use it to compare fields, not to promise a salary. Pay depends on level, city and employer, so check the openings and growth lists for the same field.
The top 25
- 1
Computer science and IT Field of study
$188k
- Open jobs
- 43,985
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 21.0%
- Median posted pay
- $188k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +7.6%
Based on 43,985 openings.
- 2
Law Field of study
$175k
- Open jobs
- 3,815
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 1.8%
- Median posted pay
- $175k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +4.5%
Based on 3,815 openings.
- 3
Design and architecture Field of study
$165k
- Open jobs
- 2,259
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 1.1%
- Median posted pay
- $165k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +1.7%
Based on 2,259 openings.
- 4
Health professions and medicine Field of study
$160k
- Open jobs
- 833
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.4%
- Median posted pay
- $160k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +8.0%
Based on 833 openings.
- 5
Math and statistics Field of study
$153k
- Open jobs
- 6,682
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 3.2%
- Median posted pay
- $153k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +25.2%
Based on 6,682 openings.
- 6
Marketing and communications Field of study
$152k
- Open jobs
- 30,658
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 14.6%
- Median posted pay
- $152k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +4.5%
Based on 30,658 openings.
- 7
Life sciences Field of study
$143k
- Open jobs
- 1,068
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.5%
- Median posted pay
- $143k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +9.4%
Based on 1,068 openings.
- 8
Engineering Field of study
$142k
- Open jobs
- 31,677
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 15.1%
- Median posted pay
- $142k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +8.4%
Based on 31,677 openings.
- 9
Social sciences and psychology Field of study
$140k
- Open jobs
- 376
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.2%
- Median posted pay
- $140k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +4.1%
Based on 376 openings.
- 10
Business administration and management Field of study
$140k
- Open jobs
- 62,474
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 29.8%
- Median posted pay
- $140k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +6.8%
Based on 62,474 openings.
- 11
Finance and economics Field of study
$134k
- Open jobs
- 18,841
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 9.0%
- Median posted pay
- $134k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +5.3%
Based on 18,841 openings.
- 12
Physical sciences Field of study
$114k
- Open jobs
- 934
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.4%
- Median posted pay
- $114k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +5.7%
Based on 934 openings.
- 13
Social work and counseling Field of study
$109k
- Open jobs
- 366
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.2%
- Median posted pay
- $109k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +7.3%
Based on 366 openings.
- 14
Education Field of study
$103k
- Open jobs
- 443
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 0.2%
- Median posted pay
- $103k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +1.6%
Based on 443 openings.
- 15
Accounting Field of study
$83k
- Open jobs
- 5,169
- Share of four-year-degree jobs
- 2.5%
- Median posted pay
- $83k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +5.0%
Based on 5,169 openings.
Full ranking
All 15 degrees that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | Field or level | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer science and IT Field of study | $188k | 43,985 |
| 2 | Law Field of study | $175k | 3,815 |
| 3 | Design and architecture Field of study | $165k | 2,259 |
| 4 | Health professions and medicine Field of study | $160k | 833 |
| 5 | Math and statistics Field of study | $153k | 6,682 |
| 6 | Marketing and communications Field of study | $152k | 30,658 |
| 7 | Life sciences Field of study | $143k | 1,068 |
| 8 | Engineering Field of study | $142k | 31,677 |
| 9 | Social sciences and psychology Field of study | $140k | 376 |
| 10 | Business administration and management Field of study | $140k | 62,474 |
| 11 | Finance and economics Field of study | $134k | 18,841 |
| 12 | Physical sciences Field of study | $114k | 934 |
| 13 | Social work and counseling Field of study | $109k | 366 |
| 14 | Education Field of study | $103k | 443 |
| 15 | Accounting Field of study | $83k | 5,169 |
How this ranking works
A degree field is a group of occupations that are usually reached through the same kind of study, such as Nursing, Engineering or Accounting. The grouping is our own judgment on the occupation code, and only occupations that typically need a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree are included. A field's score is the median advertised annual salary of its roles that post a salary range.
A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only fields with at least 300 open jobs and 50 that post pay are ranked.
Sample bar: degrees with fewer than 300 openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which degree field or education level ranks first: degree fields with the highest posted pay?
- Computer science and IT has the highest median posted pay of the degree fields: $188k a year.
- How many degrees are ranked?
- 15 degrees have at least 300 open jobs, so the list has 15 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A degree field is a group of occupations that are usually reached through the same kind of study, such as Nursing, Engineering or Accounting. The grouping is our own judgment on the occupation code, and only occupations that typically need a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree are included. A field's score is the median advertised annual salary of its roles that post a salary range. A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only fields with at least 300 open jobs and 50 that post pay are ranked.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Degree fields with the highest posted pay,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/degree-fields-with-the-highest-posted-pay
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/degree-fields-with-the-highest-posted-pay">Degree fields with the highest posted pay (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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