The 10 Best Non-Engineering Majors for Getting A High Paying Job

Some students (and parents!) think that engineering will guarantee a high salary and low unemployment rate – but after all, not everybody’s an engineer. Many college majors can lead to high-paying jobs – and engineering majors aren’t even the most employable people out there! Below are ten majors with very low unemployment rates – meaning that most people who graduate with these degrees do get a job over 97% of the time and the jobs don’t pay all that poorly, either!

We’ve all been taught that some majors lead to better careers than others. And, while this is true in a sense, it’s also very misleading. So don’t let anyone tell you that you’ll end up broke if you study philosophy. According to Payscale, the average salary for philosophy majors is actually $69,822!

And yet, in terms of finding a job, some majors do make this easier than others. Some of the reasons for this have to do with current supply and demand. Right now there are not enough teachers – and there’s a constant need for them – so education majors won’t struggle as much to find a job as, say, a budding artist or archeologist might. A job like a medical technician – not a doctor, per se, but a technician – also puts you into a field that’s high in demand and in which it isn’t overly challenging to start a career.

In addition to the challenge of finding a job, college graduates are often looking to pay off student debt and move into the next phase of life, which might include buying a house or starting a family. All this takes some moolah. So it’s important to get a job and for many graduates, it’s important to get a job that pays well.

Taking all of this into account – unemployment rates for the major and the average salaries that people with each major receive – we’ve compiled a list of some of the best majors to pursue in order to land a decent-paying job in today’s workforce.

Major/Career	Unemployment Rate	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)
Major/CareerElementary Education	Unemployment Rate1.7%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$59,420
Major/CareerSecondary Education	Unemployment Rate1.7%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$61,660
Major/CareerSpecial Education	Unemployment Rate1.9%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$61,030
Major/CareerConstruction	Unemployment Rate2.7%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$78,990 (constructiondive.com)
Major/CareerBiochemistry	Unemployment Rate1.8%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$72,425 (payscale.com)
Major/CareerPharmacy	Unemployment Rate2.0%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$125,510
Major/CareerNursing	Unemployment Rate1.8%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$73,300
Major/CareerMedical Technician	Unemployment Rate1.1%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$53,120
Major/CareerAccounting	Unemployment Rate2.4%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$71,550
Major/CareerTheology	Unemployment Rate1.5%	Average Salary (according to BLS or other sources)$53,064 (payscale.com)

Sources
Unemployment Rate
BLS Website
Construction Salary - Constructiondive.com
Biochemistry Salary - payscale.com
Theology Salary - payscale.com

So, which non-engineering majors will get you a job – and a high-paying job, at that? Let’s start with some general observations on the list as a whole. A number of the most employable majors are in the field of education. Teachers are always needed – and there aren’t enough people dedicating their lives to bringing up the next generation. If you’re looking for a job in teaching, you’re likely to find one.

However, teachers – unfortunately – aren’t always paid that well. While teachers make enough to live – and support a small family – you won’t be driving a Rolls-Royce. So which majors get the most bang for your buck? Of the more employable non-engineering majors (all with an unemployment rate of less than 3%) the highest-paying is a degree in pharmacy. In some cases, pharmacists can be paid better than doctors!

But what if you’re simply not into the health field? It’s common knowledge that a hospital career can pay well, but maybe you’re squeamish about blood or terrified of germs. Or maybe you’re just not interested in these career paths! If you’re thinking of sacrificing your interests to lead a life pursuing a life plan that you despise, just to rake in the dough – don’t. There are other options! Let’s go into detail on some of the other majors here – some of which may not be so well-known.

Theology

Maybe you’re thinking: Really? I don’t think that religious leaders get paid all that well! And maybe not, but theology degrees can lead to a whole host of careers outside of the ministry, like  working in public service and  nonprofit organizations or as a Bible translator. This major isn’t just extremely employable, it’s super flexible!

Construction

Construction majors have access to some of the best-paying jobs on this list, and someone in a managerial position in construction can easily make six figures. Why does construction pay so well? Well, it is a little bit dangerous – and there’s a lot of demand to build new things and expand.

Medical Technician

Notice that this isn’t “doctor” or “nurse.” Medical technicians don’t often deal with patients directly – so it’s a great way to get into the health field if you’re not a “people person.” What do they do? You know when you take a COVID test, and send those swabs to the lab to see if you have the disease --who do you think operates the PCR and looks at the results under a microscope?

Special Education

The field of special education is expanding – and expanding fast. Our society is becoming more and more aware that not everyone learns best sitting behind a desk, scratching on a piece of paper with a pencil. If you are a people person, special education might be the major for you. It can be challenging, yes – but so rewarding!

Those are just a few of the many majors that lead to a job – and often a good-paying one – but aren’t the ones that you always hear about. Yes, getting an M.D. can get you a good-paying job, too, but not everyone’s cut out to be a doctor! If “M.D.” doesn’t belong in your name, never fear. There are countless other options that will fit into your skill set.

Picking a major in college is hard, but remember: do NOT pick one that you hate, just because you have your eyes set on a six-figure salary!

Feel free to reach out to us to schedule a free consultation if you want to further discuss what other career options may be a good fit for you or your student.