How Valuable Is an Associate's Degree - Student Research Foundation

What Are the Top-Paying Two-Year Degrees?

Money isn’t everything. But if you or a student you know is interested in starting to work in engineering or a related field after only two years of college, it is worth knowing which jobs promise the highest earnings.

Which major fields of study lead to the highest paying jobs for students who have earned associate’s degrees? Here are some statistics compiled by PayScale:

Major Field of Study: Software Engineering

– early career pay: $50,500

– mid-career pay: $102,100

Major Field of Study: Networks & Telecommunications

– early career pay: $53,300

– mid-career pay: $97,300

Major Field of Study: Electrical & Computer Engineering

– early career pay: $44,000

– mid-career pay: $80,800

Major Field of Study: Construction Project Management

– early career pay: $41,500

– mid-career pay: $78,800

Major Field of Study: Management Information Systems

– early career pay: $42,200

– mid-career pay: $76,900

Major Field of Study: Electrical Engineering

– early career pay: $44,100

– mid-career pay: $75,500

Major Field of Study: Industrial Design

– early career pay: $42,800

– mid-career pay: $75,200

Major Field of Study: Robotics & Automation

– early career pay: $50,000

– mid-career pay: $74,300

Major Field of Study: Engineering

– early career pay: $41,100

– mid-career pay: $74,000

Major Field of Study: Computer Science

– early career pay: $41,900

– mid-career pay: $73,700

Major Field of Study: Economics

– early career pay: $35,400

– mid-career pay: $73,500

Major Field of Study: Electronics Engineering

– early career pay: $45,400

– mid-career pay: $73,100

Major Field of Study: Web Development

– early career pay: $46,300

– mid-career pay: $72,300

Major Field of Study: Construction Management

– early career pay: $44,300

– mid-career pay: $72,200

Major Field of Study: Civil Engineering

– early career pay: $38,000

– mid-career pay: $72,000

Major Field of Study: Electrical & Electronics Engineering

– early career pay: $44,500

– mid-career pay: $71,400

Major Field of Study: Mechanical Engineering

– early career pay: $42,600

– mid-career pay: $71,000

Major Field of Study: Computer Programming

– early career pay: $44,700

– mid-career pay: $70,100

Major Field of Study: Manufacturing Engineering

– early career pay: $48,700

– mid-career pay: $69,000

Major Field of Study: Network Administration

– early career pay: $41,100

– mid-career pay: $68,400

Major Field of Study: Software Applications & Programming

– early career pay: $42,800

– mid-career pay: $68,000

Major Field of Study: Physics

– early career pay: $34,000

– mid-career pay: $67,000

Major Field of Study: Supply Chain Management

– early career pay: $42,100

– mid-career pay: $66,900

Major Field of Study: Computer Engineering

– early career pay: $43,000

– mid-career pay: $66,800

Major Field of Study: Network Security

– early career pay: $43,800

– mid-career pay: $65,800

We Invite You to Explore All Your Career and College Options. . .

Participate in the National Career & College Pathway Study and you will gain new insights about making educational and career decisions that align with your interests, passions, and aptitudes.

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