The top 10 degrees for earning you money revealed
Choosing a degree is one of your first major decisions as an adult. There are so many things to consider, but with massive financial burdens a lot of people are (for better or worse) focusing on what money they can make after uni with their degree.
Job search engine Adzuna have calculated the top 10 degrees for saving you money. Somewhat worryingly, medicine doesn't make the list.
Having done that, they have now published a list of the 10 degrees that can get you into some of the highest paying jobs:
10) Maths
Average pay: £39,015
Maths graduates are in high demand. If you want a guaranteed teaching job, take a maths degree. If you want to be an accountant, take a maths degree. If you want to constantly be asked "what's your favourite number" take a maths degree.
Why you still shouldn't take it
It's maths.
9) Mechanical Engineering
Average pay: £39,106
People who do mechanical engineering can pretty much choose any job in the manufactoring industry.
If you really want to make money though, you can get into defence, aerospace and automotive engineering. Turns out there's a lot of money in making bombs, flying planes over to the places you're trying to bomb, and making cars for Jeremy Clarkson to sit in.
Why you still shouldn't take it
It's literally rocket science.
8) Science
Average pay: £40,409
Science degrees will pretty much get you any job, from chemical engineering to pharmaceuticals and meth cook (at which point your pay goes up to three million dollars for three months of your time). You'll be very employable, because to lay people anyone with a science degree is basically considered to be Einstein.
Why you still shouldn't take it
Science is hard.
7) Architecture
Average pay: £40,788
It takes seven years to become an architect. Because, you know, you have to build buildings so that they won't fall down and kill everyone in and/or near the building you built.
But once you're done you're going to earn a lot, and after your vision has been built you can pretend to yourself that everyone who occupies the building you designed is some kind of doll in your massive dollhouse. Double win.
Why you still shouldn't take it
No matter how beautiful your new building is, anyone in the nearby proximity is going to complain to the local paper about what an eyesore it is, and how it isn't as good as buildings from the Tudor era.
6) Finance
Average pay: £40,908
Shock news: finance degrees are good for your finances. Makes sense, otherwise half way through your degree every student would be knowledgeable enough in finance to realise "hey, finance degrees are sh*t for my finances" and immmediately quit their finance degree.
Finance folk tend to go into accountancy, banking and financial analysis, becoming a much less glamourous version of the Wolf of Wall Street.
Why you still shouldn't take it
It's probably quite sickening to see how much Wall Street is actually earning, and then comparing it to your paycheck.
5) Economics
Average pay: £41,144
Like finance graduates and One Direction, those holding economics degrees are in high demand among companies working the banking and financial sector. Often go on to become statisticians, financial analysts and bankers as well as economists - obviously.
Why you still shouldn't take it
You might end up being a statistician.
4) Computer science
Average pay: £41,950
Everyone knows how to computer works these days, but knowing how they work makes you some kind of wizard. If you can build a database (if you're thinking dull) a website or a computer game (if you're thinking a little more fun) you'll earn insane amounts of money.
Why you still shouldn't do it
Get used to saying the phrase "have you tried turning it off and on again?" Everyone now thinks you're their personal IT guy.
3) Accounting
Average pay: £42,404
Shocker. Accounting is one of the highest paid jobs in the UK. If you work for one of the big firms e.g. KPMG or Deloitte you can earn huge sums of money, or seek work with a better work-life balance (e.g. at a university) and you'll still earn a good wage.
Why you still shouldn't take it
Working in accounting at the big firms mean insane hours, and you're paid quite highly a) because there's a lot of money in it and b) because it can be very dull work.
2) Engineering
Average pay £42,837
Engineering can get you into a lot of roles, from the transport industry and construction to defence and aerospace engineering. If you dreamed of working for NASA for instance, engineering is a good degree to take. If you like your work a little shadier than that you could take a job in a patent office and do a Thomas Edison - slap your name on the patent long after the invention has been invented.
Why you still shouldn't take it
You might turn into Dilbert.
1) Civil Engineering
Average pay: £44,851
It's like engineering but it's more polite.
Not really. Civil engineers essentially build and manage the world and its infrastructure. There's a reason they're paid so highly, and it's because they're making sure high-speed trains don't derail, skyscrapers remain vertical and attempting to save the environment.
Why you still shouldn't take it
Mo' money mo' problems?
If you aren't ready for a career, and just want some quick cash, then check out our 99 ways to make money guide.
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