The top 10 master's degrees result in the highest average starting salaries, with the No. 1 degree earning more than $100,000.
More education often means more money.
In 2023, master's degree-holders earned approximately 16% more than those with only a bachelor's degree, and nearly twice as much as those with only a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Paying for a master's degree often involves taking out loans, with the average debt amount being $53,920, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Federal loans for graduate school are also more expensive, with higher interest rates compared to undergraduate loans.
Over $69,000 in debt is owed by 55% of master's degree-holders, who have debt from both their undergraduate and graduate studies.
Pursuing an advanced degree can enhance your salary prospects, and science, technology, engineering, and math-related master's degrees typically result in higher salaries compared to degrees in the arts and humanities.
Your starting salary will depend on your level of experience in addition to your degree.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, these are the 10 master's degrees with the highest average starting salaries for the class of 2022.
- Computer and information sciences: $105,890
- Engineering: $98,040
- Engineering technologies and related fields: $90,610
- Business management, marketing and related services: $87,980
- Transportation and materials moving: $84,100
- Mathematics and statistics: $83,440
- Legal Professions and studies: $74,650
- Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, humanities: $72,680
- Multi/interdisciplinary studies: $71,940
- Health professions and related programs: $70,960
A recent study by The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity found that fewer than 60% of master's degree programs provide a positive return on investment.
According to FREOPP, the median ROI for all master's degrees is approximately $50,000. FREOPP calculated this figure using data from the Department of Education's College Scorecard and earnings information from the Census Bureau for over 53,000 degree and certificate programs.
Graduate programs may seem attractive to students, but FREOPP warns that salary outcomes for master's degree holders can vary greatly.
While over 100,600 students are expected to earn a return on investment of $1 million or more with their master's degrees, over 630,000 students are enrolled in programs with a negative or zero expected ROI, according to FREOPP's analysis.
To become a successful and confident communicator, enroll in CNBC's online course, "Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking." Our program will teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, manage your nerves, choose the right words and body language, and make a great first impression. Sign up now and use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% discount through July 10, 2024.
Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive expert advice on work, money, and life.
Make It
You might also like
- One of the most Googled houses in the world, the Chicago-area house from 'Home Alone,' has just sold for $5.5 million.
- A psychologist claims that TikTok is causing harm to children on an industrial scale.
- I won't be consuming these 6 foods that can accelerate the aging process and shorten my lifespan, as advised by a plastic surgeon with 20 years of experience.
- In order to succeed in 2025, the best advice from a career coach is to be proactive.
- Fourteen colleges provide bachelor's degrees in AI, with only one Ivy League institution among them.