While many people think of education level and career longevity as the two biggest factors in landing an above average salary or a job with any potential, STEM fields continue to challenge this traditional way of thinking.
A recent study conducted by WalletHub took a look at the best entry level jobs based on a variety of factors from starting median salary to projected job growth and the findings were clear: STEM fields are hard to beat.
The majority of jobs that scored in the top ten in terms of overall rank were STEM-related. Engineer and systems engineer took the top two spots, while web applications developer was number four. Other STEM jobs that made the top ten were environmental, health, and safety engineer, electrical engineer, software engineer, and architect.
In addition, geologist and geophysicist made the list of the top five careers with the most income growth potential, and web applications developer, web designer, and biomedical engineer were among the top for fastest projected job growth by 2024.
This study, while certainly telling, is one of many that points to the high income potential offered by STEM jobs. According to a 2013 study conducted by Brookings, “Half of all STEM jobs are available to workers without a four-year college degree, and those jobs pay $53,000 on average — a wage 10 percent higher than jobs with similar educational requirements.”
Another study published in a 2012 issue of Research in Higher Education, found minority students who majored in STEM earned 25% more than their peers who had non-STEM majors. Those who went on to take a job in STEM earned up to 50% more than their peers in other fields.
Lead author of the study, Tatiana Melguizo explained, “We need to educate students that if they get a job in a STEM-related occupation, they have an even higher earning premium. Otherwise, students aren’t reaping the economic benefit of all the hard work they went through as undergrads.”
With income potential and job growth at these heights, it’s clear that STEM is one path that continues to look brighter and brighter for students today and into the future.