The financial consequences of choosing to major in psychology instead of engineering? In California, typically about $40,000 in lost earnings each year.
A few years ago, the U.S. Census Bureau started asking people across the state and nation what they majored in during college, along with the usual questions covering income, employment and dozens of other topics. We've used the answers to determine pay, unemployment and top jobs for each major among California college graduates.
The old saw is true: Californians who majored in fields involving high technology, finance, engineering and the hard sciences tend to make the most; English, drama and soft science majors tend to make the least.
Use this database to see how Californians who chose your particular major are doing, or to see how the major you are considering will impact your future earnings.
College majors with the highest earnings
Chart excludes majors claimed by fewer than 10,000 California workers and excludes earnings by those with a graduate degree.
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