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Earth Sciences: A Most Valuable Major

According to PayScale's massive compensation database and job growth projections through 2023 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Geology is the 7th most valuable college major in terms of salary and career prospects. They are ranked by median starting pay, median mid-career pay (at least 10 years experience) and projected growth of job opportunities.

No. 7: Geology

  • Starting Median Pay: $52,500
  • Mid-Career Median Pay: $92,580
  • Projected Job Growth: 5%

From College Major to Career

The Wall Street Journal created this neat webpage where you can sort college degrees by popularity, median earnings and unemployment rate. We're gratified to see that according to the 2010 U.S. Census data, these fields have low unemployment and good earnings:

  • Geological and Geophysical Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Physical Sciences
  • Geosciences
  • Oceanography
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Soil Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Geology and Earth Science
Median annual salaries of geoscience occupations, 2023