Episode 485: What's Your Major?
Have you considered petroleum engineering? Diane Bondareff/AP hide caption
Sure, some college degrees lead to higher paying jobs than others. But what's shocking — at least, it was shocking to us — is just how big the gap can be.
The most lucrative majors typically lead to jobs with salaries over $100,000 a year. The least lucrative lead to salaries of around $30,000.
On today's show, we run the numbers. We talk to people who majored in the most- and least-lucrative subjects. And we hear from an economist who says, when it comes to income, choosing a major is more important than choosing a college.
For More:
* The Most (And Least) Lucrative College Majors, In 1 Graph
* Why Women (Like Me) Choose Lower Paying Jobs
Music: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings's "Money" and Pink Floyd's "Money." Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/Spotify/ Tumblr. Download the Planet Money iPhone App.