NEW MEXICO FRONT PAGE NEWS
(STACKER) – College students can easily get overwhelmed by the many possible subjects to study. Even after identifying their main interests, there’s the question of what they can do with that field of study after graduation. Passion is one thing, but which majors bring high chances of a prosperous, long-term career?
On average, people with bachelor’s degrees earn a salary of $67,860 per year—more than $27,000 above the average earnings for people with only a high school diploma.
Stacker compiled a list of the majors with the highest and lowest unemployment rates using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which created its latest analysis using 2021 data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey via IPUMS. Majors listed are ranked from highest to the lowest unemployment rate, with ties broken by underemployment rate.
Median wages are for full-time workers with bachelor’s degrees. Unemployment and underemployment rates listed here are for recent college graduates, which the analysis defines as those between ages 22 and 27 with at least a bachelor’s degree. That’s the same age range used for early career median wages, while mid-career wages represent those between the ages of 35 and 45. Meanwhile, the share with a graduate degree is calculated based on a population aged 25 to 65 with bachelor’s degrees. Those who are currently in school were excluded.
Read on to see if the major you studied or are interested in has made the list. Beginning at #73 and counting down to #1, here are the college majors with the highest and lowest unemployment rates.
#73. Fine arts
– Unemployment rate: 12.1%
– Underemployment rate: 55.4%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 23.2%
#72. Philosophy
– Unemployment rate: 9.1%
– Underemployment rate: 57.1%
– Early-career median wage: $42,000
– Mid-career median wage: $68,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 56.5%
#71. Sociology
– Unemployment rate: 9.0%
– Underemployment rate: 51.3%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $61,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 38.3%
#70. Family and consumer sciences
– Unemployment rate: 8.9%
– Underemployment rate: 47.9%
– Early-career median wage: $37,000
– Mid-career median wage: $60,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 32.9%
#69. Mass media
– Unemployment rate: 8.4%
– Underemployment rate: 51.7%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 21.2%
#68. Commercial art and graphic design
– Unemployment rate: 7.9%
– Underemployment rate: 33.5%
– Early-career median wage: $43,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 11.8%
#67. Foreign language
– Unemployment rate: 7.8%
– Underemployment rate: 50.1%
– Early-career median wage: $43,000
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 50.5%
#66. Performing arts
– Unemployment rate: 7.6%
– Underemployment rate: 64.0%
– Early-career median wage: $39,000
– Mid-career median wage: $62,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 38.5%
#65. Public policy and law
– Unemployment rate: 7.4%
– Underemployment rate: 49.4%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 46.1%
#64. International affairs
– Unemployment rate: 7.1%
– Underemployment rate: 49.3%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $86,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 45.6%
#63. Engineering technologies
– Unemployment rate: 7.1%
– Underemployment rate: 39.6%
– Early-career median wage: $62,000
– Mid-career median wage: $90,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.3%
#62. Political science
– Unemployment rate: 6.9%
– Underemployment rate: 49.2%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 53.6%
#61. Marketing
– Unemployment rate: 6.6%
– Underemployment rate: 52.0%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $85,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 18.6%
#60. Aerospace engineering
– Unemployment rate: 6.6%
– Underemployment rate: 27.7%
– Early-career median wage: $72,000
– Mid-career median wage: $112,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 49.4%
#59. Anthropology
– Unemployment rate: 6.5%
– Underemployment rate: 53.3%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 46.3%
#58. Journalism
– Unemployment rate: 6.5%
– Underemployment rate: 47.7%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 27.0%
#57. Information systems and management
– Unemployment rate: 6.4%
– Underemployment rate: 24.7%
– Early-career median wage: $54,000
– Mid-career median wage: $90,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 25.6%
#56. English language
– Unemployment rate: 6.3%
– Underemployment rate: 48.7%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 47.5%
#55. Miscellaneous biological science
– Unemployment rate: 6.3%
– Underemployment rate: 48.6%
– Early-career median wage: $42,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 60.9%
#54. Liberal arts
– Unemployment rate: 6.2%
– Underemployment rate: 55.2%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $63,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 30.0%
#53. Physics
– Unemployment rate: 6.1%
– Underemployment rate: 34.9%
– Early-career median wage: $53,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 69.8%
#52. Miscellaneous technologies
– Unemployment rate: 5.9%
– Underemployment rate: 48.4%
– Early-career median wage: $48,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 18.5%
#51. General engineering
– Unemployment rate: 5.9%
– Underemployment rate: 25.3%
– Early-career median wage: $60,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 37.0%
#50. Medical technicians
– Unemployment rate: 5.8%
– Underemployment rate: 59.5%
– Early-career median wage: $51,000
– Mid-career median wage: $71,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.6%
#49. Communications
– Unemployment rate: 5.8%
– Underemployment rate: 52.7%
– Early-career median wage: $47,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.2%
#48. History
– Unemployment rate: 5.8%
– Underemployment rate: 49.1%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 50.2%
#47. Mathematics
– Unemployment rate: 5.8%
– Underemployment rate: 30.7%
– Early-career median wage: $59,000
– Mid-career median wage: $88,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 52.4%
#46. Treatment therapy
– Unemployment rate: 5.7%
– Underemployment rate: 41.3%
– Early-career median wage: $48,000
– Mid-career median wage: $69,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 50.7%
#45. Economics
– Unemployment rate: 5.5%
– Underemployment rate: 35.3%
– Early-career median wage: $60,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 42.6%
#44. Miscellaneous physical sciences
– Unemployment rate: 5.5%
– Underemployment rate: 23.2%
– Early-career median wage: $52,000
– Mid-career median wage: $104,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 57.1%
#43. General social sciences
– Unemployment rate: 5.4%
– Underemployment rate: 50.6%
– Early-career median wage: $43,000
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 38.5%
#42. Leisure and hospitality
– Unemployment rate: 5.3%
– Underemployment rate: 58.6%
– Early-career median wage: $38,000
– Mid-career median wage: $60,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 34.1%
#41. General business
– Unemployment rate: 5.3%
– Underemployment rate: 52.4%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 25.2%
#40. Art history
– Unemployment rate: 5.3%
– Underemployment rate: 48.8%
– Early-career median wage: $48,000
– Mid-career median wage: $64,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 41.8%
#39. Mechanical engineering
– Unemployment rate: 5.3%
– Underemployment rate: 15.8%
– Early-career median wage: $70,000
– Mid-career median wage: $105,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 39.2%
#38. Health services
– Unemployment rate: 5.2%
– Underemployment rate: 45.6%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $60,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 51.8%
#37. Environmental studies
– Unemployment rate: 5.1%
– Underemployment rate: 50.2%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $68,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 32.5%
#36. Business management
– Unemployment rate: 5.0%
– Underemployment rate: 55.1%
– Early-career median wage: $46,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.6%
#35. Interdisciplinary studies
– Unemployment rate: 4.8%
– Underemployment rate: 46.3%
– Early-career median wage: $41,800
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 37.7%
#34. Computer science
– Unemployment rate: 4.8%
– Underemployment rate: 19.1%
– Early-career median wage: $73,000
– Mid-career median wage: $105,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 31.8%
#33. Pharmacy
– Unemployment rate: 4.8%
– Underemployment rate: 14.7%
– Early-career median wage: $55,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 65.1%
#32. Psychology
– Unemployment rate: 4.7%
– Underemployment rate: 47.6%
– Early-career median wage: $37,400
– Mid-career median wage: $65,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 51.0%
#31. Biology
– Unemployment rate: 4.7%
– Underemployment rate: 46.8%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 62.9%
#30. Biochemistry
– Unemployment rate: 4.7%
– Underemployment rate: 37.4%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $85,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 70.3%
#29. Advertising and public relations
– Unemployment rate: 4.6%
– Underemployment rate: 39.2%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 19.0%
#28. Industrial engineering
– Unemployment rate: 4.6%
– Underemployment rate: 18.3%
– Early-career median wage: $70,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 36.9%
#27. Criminal justice
– Unemployment rate: 4.5%
– Underemployment rate: 71.3%
– Early-career median wage: $43,900
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.1%
#26. Ethnic studies
– Unemployment rate: 4.4%
– Underemployment rate: 53.7%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $66,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 49.7%
#25. Animal and plant sciences
– Unemployment rate: 4.4%
– Underemployment rate: 52.5%
– Early-career median wage: $42,000
– Mid-career median wage: $67,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 34.7%
#24. Geography
– Unemployment rate: 4.4%
– Underemployment rate: 44.5%
– Early-career median wage: $48,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 32.6%
#23. Finance
– Unemployment rate: 4.1%
– Underemployment rate: 28.7%
– Early-career median wage: $60,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 30.6%
#22. Chemical engineering
– Unemployment rate: 4.1%
– Underemployment rate: 19.6%
– Early-career median wage: $75,000
– Mid-career median wage: $120,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 47.4%
#21. Computer engineering
– Unemployment rate: 3.7%
– Underemployment rate: 17.8%
– Early-career median wage: $74,000
– Mid-career median wage: $114,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 40.0%
#20. Earth sciences
– Unemployment rate: 3.6%
– Underemployment rate: 38.8%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 43.8%
#19. Theology and religion
– Unemployment rate: 3.6%
– Underemployment rate: 35.5%
– Early-career median wage: $36,000
– Mid-career median wage: $52,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 44.9%
#18. Chemistry
– Unemployment rate: 3.4%
– Underemployment rate: 39.5%
– Early-career median wage: $47,000
– Mid-career median wage: $85,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 65.4%
#17. Miscellaneous engineering
– Unemployment rate: 3.4%
– Underemployment rate: 22.9%
– Early-career median wage: $68,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 45.8%
#16. Civil engineering
– Unemployment rate: 3.4%
– Underemployment rate: 15.1%
– Early-career median wage: $65,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 38.6%
#15. Accounting
– Unemployment rate: 3.3%
– Underemployment rate: 22.6%
– Early-career median wage: $54,000
– Mid-career median wage: $80,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 31.1%
#14. Electrical engineering
– Unemployment rate: 3.2%
– Underemployment rate: 15.4%
– Early-career median wage: $70,000
– Mid-career median wage: $109,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 47.7%
#13. Early childhood education
– Unemployment rate: 3.1%
– Underemployment rate: 24.5%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $43,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 40.8%
#12. Social services
– Unemployment rate: 3.0%
– Underemployment rate: 27.7%
– Early-career median wage: $37,000
– Mid-career median wage: $52,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 52.4%
#11. Special education
– Unemployment rate: 2.7%
– Underemployment rate: 17.7%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $52,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 60.7%
#10. Secondary education
– Unemployment rate: 2.6%
– Underemployment rate: 27.0%
– Early-career median wage: $40,400
– Mid-career median wage: $52,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 51.2%
#9. Agriculture
– Unemployment rate: 2.4%
– Underemployment rate: 52.1%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $70,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 21.0%
#8. Business analytics
– Unemployment rate: 2.2%
– Underemployment rate: 24.8%
– Early-career median wage: $66,000
– Mid-career median wage: $99,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 24.7%
#7. Architecture
– Unemployment rate: 2.1%
– Underemployment rate: 29.1%
– Early-career median wage: $50,000
– Mid-career median wage: $85,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 38.7%
#6. Nutrition sciences
– Unemployment rate: 1.8%
– Underemployment rate: 45.0%
– Early-career median wage: $45,000
– Mid-career median wage: $60,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 46.3%
#5. General education
– Unemployment rate: 1.8%
– Underemployment rate: 22.9%
– Early-career median wage: $40,200
– Mid-career median wage: $51,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 50.1%
#4. Elementary education
– Unemployment rate: 1.8%
– Underemployment rate: 15.2%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $48,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 49.0%
#3. Construction services
– Unemployment rate: 1.4%
– Underemployment rate: 17.7%
– Early-career median wage: $60,000
– Mid-career median wage: $100,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 9.9%
#2. Nursing
– Unemployment rate: 1.3%
– Underemployment rate: 10.1%
– Early-career median wage: $55,000
– Mid-career median wage: $75,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 29.3%
#1. Miscellaneous education
– Unemployment rate: 0.6%
– Underemployment rate: 16.7%
– Early-career median wage: $40,000
– Mid-career median wage: $56,000
– Share with graduate degrees: 56.6%
As reported by KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos
