It has been shown repeatedly that people with a bachelor’s degree earn substantially more than those with a high school diploma. Much in the same way, a master’s degree also bumps up your salary quite a bit. However, some fields are known to offer higher wages than others.

If you are interested in doing a master’s to improve your financial prospects, you then know which programs yield the highest salaries after graduation is the first step.

I have used different resources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics to figure out the averages of varying graduate programs’ starting salaries. Keep in mind that these are US national averages and may not apply to other countries.

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

• Average starting salary: $102,800
• Mid-Career Salary: $187,600

The petroleum industry is one of the world’s biggest industries, and naturally, petroleum-related jobs tend to offer handsome packages to employees. However, jobs related explicitly to engineering within the petroleum industry are the highest paying ones, and such jobs require a Master’s degree in relevant programs, i.e., Masters’s in Petroleum Engineering.

There are many subdivisions within the petroleum engineering field. A petroleum engineer is generally tasked with optimizing oil production, analyzing subsurface structures for oil reserves, and optimizing oil recovery techniques.

CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS

• Starting salary $140,900
• Mid-career: $162,800

CRNAs are tasked with administering anesthesia to patients before surgical procedures. It is a highly sensitive job that requires great diligence and attentiveness. Most CRNAs work independently and have very high demand, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To become a CRNA, you’d need at least a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. Moreover, you also have to pass a national certification examination to be eligible for practice.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Average starting salary $68,100
• Mid-career salary: $138,300

If you have a knack for business start-ups and ventures, an MBA program in Entrepreneurship can offer high-salary career options. You will learn about financial accounting, global marketing, operations management, data analysis, and other vital skills to successfully build new businesses and offer consultation to interested parties.

MARKETING MANAGEMENT

• Average starting salary $63,000
• Mid-career salary: $135,300

Corporate gigs are always sought after for their increased salaries, and an MBA in marketing management is a perfect way to get in. You would develop the skills necessary to run the marketing branch through both theory and practice.

Courses in this program will teach you about product development, management, and sales promotion. You will also need to on top of your game to implement internet technologies and emerging media platforms to market products and services.

ECONOMICS

• Average starting salary $71,400
• Mid-career salary: $131,800

An MBA in Economics teaches students how to assess markets and maximize their potential by carefully pricing a product and marketing it. Moreover, you will also learn how to make crucial decisions related to investments and marketing policies, and industrial relations.

Big corporations and businesses rely heavily on economics experts to drive their sales in the global economy, and hence they are in high demand. Such a program can be precious to your corporate career.

MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• Average beginning salary $61,700
• Mid-career salary: $128,200

MBA in Marketing and International Business delves into understanding international markets, assessing competitors, and building product portfolios. Students also learn consumer behaviors on a global level to maximize market presence and profits. Students also learn about all the fundamental skills and tools required to virtually market products internationally.

MBA in Finance

• Average salary $68,300
• Mid-career salary: $126,800

An MBA in Finance can be a gateway towards many different careers- investment banking, small business development, securities, etc. Courses under this program cover the fundamentals of finance and enable students to acquire management skills needed in a plethora of business situations. Moreover, some of the significant courses include learning valuable marketing, strategic management, and information technology skills.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

• Average starting salary: $78,200
• Mid-career salary: $124,700

Engineering programs are generally known for high salaried careers, and the second-best engineering program after petroleum is electrical engineering in terms of salary prospects. However, electrical engineering is quite different than what it was decades ago, thanks to the emergence of the internet and the resulting digitization of technology.

The profession of electrical engineering requires a strong foundation in physical sciences and mathematics. Moreover, a broad knowledge of engineering techniques is also demanded a better understanding of the relation between technology and society.

Students generally learn about the theoretical foundation, practical application, and interdisciplinary skills needed to reconcile new ideas and applications with modern electro science.

CORPORATE FINANCE

• Average starting salary $77,800
• Mid-career salary: $122,800

Masters in Corporate Finance offers students the tools and understanding to help organizations generate necessary funds to support and expand business operations. Courses under corporate finance also delve into the management of cash resources and maximization of future economic stability.

Typically graduates would find work in the corporate sector both internationally and locally. You could also provide consultation to local businesses that are looking to break into the global market.

OPERATIONS RESEARCH

• Average salary $78,800
• Mid-career salary: $122,700

Businesses require operations research analysts to come up with diligent solutions to high-level problems. Students will learn about all the necessary tools needed to problem-solve, such as optimization, data mining, statistical analysis, and mathematical modeling. These tools are paramount in coming up with intelligent solutions that will help businesses and organizations to operate optimally, efficiently, and cost-effectively.