STEM will not likely get you $250K

right. Stem probably won't get you big bucks. What it will get you is a job after college so you aren't that philosophy major working at wendys.

drorwhat wrote:

I've seen too many people telling others to go STEM for big money.

$250K+ is for doctors, lawyers, sales and finance. Stop telling people STEM will get them there.

Nurse: $56,160

Software Engineer: $79,357

Mathematician: $86,900

Biologist: $60,900

You can make well over 250k as a software developer. Sure, its not the norm and it only really happens in 2-3 cities (I personally know of 2 but can imagine a 3rd), but it's possible if you have the talent and drive. I'm sure the other STEM degrees are similar.

If you work at the top companies in software engineering you can pretty easily make up to 250k all in, including stocks/options/bonus. But if you are working at some run of the mill random company as a software engineer, no you arent going to make 250k. But if you are talented enough to get a job at Google or Facebook as a software engineer, 250k in total is a reasonable expectation after ~5-7 years as long as you consistently perform.

An engineering degree can land you a construction management job out of college. If you're smart and with a good company, you can be making $250k after about 10-15 years.

Steve Martin was a philosophy major

The reason people suggest STEM is the almost guarantee of a comfortable middle class income for a reasonable work-life balance.

More can be made if you are willing to have a bad work-life balance. I know people making 250k with a bs in engineering. They have almost no free time though.

If you want a good balance and 250k, there aren't many viable options and it is more about luck combined with persistence than the degree.

sdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdf wrote:

The reason people suggest STEM is the almost guarantee of a comfortable middle class income for a reasonable work-life balance.

More can be made if you are willing to have a bad work-life balance. I know people making 250k with a bs in engineering. They have almost no free time though.

If you want a good balance and 250k, there aren't many viable options and it is more about luck combined with persistence than the degree.

This.

I have never heard of a Software Engineer making anything close to $250K outside of the Pacific time zone.

sdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdf wrote:

The reason people suggest STEM is the almost guarantee of a comfortable middle class income for a reasonable work-life balance.

More can be made if you are willing to have a bad work-life balance. I know people making 250k with a bs in engineering. They have almost no free time though.

If you want a good balance and 250k, there aren't many viable options and it is more about luck combined with persistence than the degree.

Pretty much this. If you want to make $250k in corporate america you will either need to be with a company for a long time, or work ridiculous hours...often both.

The only way to get "rich" outside of established paths i.e. Dr./Lawyer/Sales is to build your own (successful) business. Law School is retarded unless you go to a top 10 or have really solid connections. Medical School means big bills but in the long run it is worth it for those who have the passion.

Pharma/Medical Device Sales Reps can pull 250k+ but they are slaves to their jobs and it is more about the person than the industry.

A STEM degree doesn't require you to work a regular salaried job. There are more Fortune 500 CEOs with engineering degrees than with business degrees. There are plenty STEM graduates who run their own businesses.

Of course there are also plenty of people who never got a college degree and are making piles of money.

Nobody thinks a STEM degree will automatically give them the LRC minimum of $350k per year, but it is likely to get you a decent upper middle class salary and puts you in a good position should you have the disposition and ambition to go for a high paying job or your own business.

A ton of the people working on trading desks, in risk analysis, or in management are STEM majors. So you aren't wrong, but someone with a double major in two of math, physics, engineering, or computer science is the highest priority recruit for a big financial institution. They are regularly hired over business school grad's and econ majors.

nooo way wrote:

I have never heard of a Software Engineer making anything close to $250K outside of the Pacific time zone.

Correct. It is the same as other higher-dollar jobs. There's no free time.

If you want to become rich you have to start your own company. That's it.

http://wallstreetplayboys.com/

drorwhat wrote:

I've seen too many people telling others to go STEM for big money.

$250K+ is for doctors, lawyers, sales and finance. Stop telling people STEM will get them there.

Nurse: $56,160

Software Engineer: $79,357

Mathematician: $86,900

Biologist: $60,900

Where'd that $79K come from? New Comp Sci and Computer Engineering grads are getting that from decent undergrad programs. Sure, your typical software engineer isn't going to be making $250K, experienced software engineers in the Boston suburbs are making well over $100K for regular companies. $130-150 is more typical.

If you want to make $250K plus, I would recommend a couple of things: get a degree in something science or health based, go to med school or get a job in a developing technology, work hard for a few years until you have a real understanding of how the business works, formulate a business plan, take out a loan and get to work. It's just as possible in the STEM professions if you have the drive and guts to see it through. Oh yeah, and don't have kids until you have your path established. Things I would not do: get a degree in the humanities or liberal arts or have kids while in school or unmarried.

STEM will get your foot in the door to a career where you can make $250k+, but will not guaranty that kind of coin. The only guaranty you get with a STEM degree is the option to teach high school. But when you look at the big companies that build things, make things, design things, etc., the VPs and executive suites are filled with STEM people. You can get the fanciest MBA degree out there, but if you do not understand STEM, you will not get far in an energy company, high tech manufacturer, software company etc. And given that most of the best jobs left in the US that are not finance, law or accounting are STEM, it would almost be foolish not to get a STEM degree these days.

Nearly three out of every four people with STEM degrees have jobs in other fields.

Not everyone with a STEM degree is successful in obtaining a STEM job.

drorwhat wrote:

I've seen too many people telling others to go STEM for big money.

$250K+ is for doctors, lawyers, sales and finance. Stop telling people STEM will get them there.

Nurse: $56,160

Software Engineer: $79,357

Mathematician: $86,900

Biologist: $60,900

Most physicians are primary care docs who earn 210,000 gross. I'm not complaining, just stating facts.

Specialists make 250-400,000.

Mind you this is with 11-15 yrs post HS training.

Engineering can make 80, 90,000 starting out of college at age 22 in certain specialities. They can get into management and make BIG bucks. Or be consultants.

nooo way wrote:

I have never heard of a Software Engineer making anything close to $250K outside of the Pacific time zone.

Now you have. I live in the Boston area. All in (with bonus) I made ~$325k last year. I work for a hedge fund.