CNS Career Web: How much money will I make?

If your primary goal in choosing a major in the sciences is to make a lot of money, you may be in for a shock. The average starting salary for students with a Bachelor’s degree in the College of Science was $31,000 in the year 2003—but the majority of new graduates started in the $20’s.

It’s important to realize that where you start is not where you will end up—by getting a college degree, you have significantly greater future earning potential. You should also realize that only 15% of the USA population actually completes a college degree. This is why the completion of any degree, rather than a specific major, is important to many employers.

The other factor to take into consideration when evaluating salaries is your benefits package. An environmental zoology major starting at $24K (the average for that major) might also be working for a governmental agency—and would have great retirement and health benefits. A mathematics major might start working for a corporation at $41K, but have to contribute more to her health and retirement plans.

It’s also important to remember that most CNS graduates go to work for companies with fewer than 100 employees, not large corporations. Their starting salary may be less, but their opportunities for advancement and promotion in the future are usually greater.

NOTE: This data is drawn from a relatively small sample of students, and may not be representative of your experience. No MSU physics or geoscience salary data was available, so NACE national average was used. (CERI, 2001; NACE 2002)

Managing your money
If you keep having more month than money, now is a good time to start working on changing your spending habits. The National Council on Economic Education has a fabulous website. If you click on “Spending” you will find a calculator that shows you just how much salary you will have left after social security, taxes, and rent.

What about graduate school?
It is true that you can get a higher salary with a graduate degree, but it’s important to realize that admissions are selective, and that graduate school is significantly different than undergraduate education. You can read more about graduate schools in the graduate education section.

US population degree completion rates (Source):
6.8% with associate/community college degree
14.8% with a BS or BA
4.9% Masters degree
2.1% with a professional degree (MD/DO) or a PhD