Math Skills Point to Highest-Paying Jobs

August 6, 2009

The highest-earning college degrees have a common denominator. Those who receive them have demonstrated mathematical skills. That's what the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported in its latest survey.

The survey’s 15 top-earning degrees (and average compensation) range from Petroleum engineering ($83,000) to Chemical engineering ($65,000) to Computer science ($61,000) to Actuarial science ($56,000) to Construction management ($53,000). Mathematics is at the crux of graduates getting paid the most, observed Ed Koc, NACE's director of research. If you have those skills, "you are an extremely valuable asset," he said.

Some say the U.S. needs more graduates with the requisite math skills. Emanuel Contomanolis, who runs the career center at Rochester Institute of Technology, noted that the technology fields are driving salaries and offers. Demand for engineers will continue to grow during the recession, according to employment guru and Quicken blog editor Farnoosh Torabi.

Source: CNN Money.com, July 24