According to CollegeTimes, a degree in chemical engineering pays the most with an annual out-the-door salary averaging about $56,000 per year. Recent innovations in materials manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology have called for bright minds in the field of chemical engineering. Engineering generally has a high success rate for former students looking to start work immediately after graduation, and chemical engineering is more relevant than ever. Work in battery technologies, for example, will have a constant demand for many years to come, making for a stable career.
Not to be confused with computer science or general Information technology (IT) work, computer engineering is the second-most valuable degree to have from a four-year college. CollegeTimes says the average salary for a new graduate averages about $55,000 per year. Computer engineering also includes the sub-field of software engineering. In order for a job in computer engineering to have longevity, however, the worker must stay abreast of new advances, which might require more education in the long run.
Electrical engineering, which includes communications engineering, is the third most valuable college degree. According to CollegeTimes, recent graduates can expect to make an average of $53,000 per year. Keep in mind this is a national average; graduates working in more urban, affluent markets can expect to make more money from the start. In the last two decades, electrical engineering demand has skyrocketed as consumer electronics and the infrastructure that supports them have become commonplace. Like chemical engineering, electrical engineering will require constant additional education in the field as time goes on.
It's no mistake that the top four most valued college degrees are related to engineering. In this case, CollegeTimes says recent graduates of mechanical engineering programs can expect to make about $51,000 per year at a new job. Mechanical engineers conceptualize and realize everything from automobiles to manufacturing processes. Mechanical engineering is another field that has had a steadily increasing demand as automation has become a more efficient and accepted way of manufacturing products. Since construction in general is fairly constant, jobs in mechanical engineering have great longevity.
According to Forbes, a master's degree in physician studies provides the best salary after graduation for a graduate with a master's degree, with an average starting salary of $98,900 per year. Students in this field are well-versed in assisting doctors in diagnosing and treating medical conditions. The same study shows that the average starting salary for new doctor is $200,000 per year, depending on specialty.