Median mid-career pay: $80,100-$87,300
Median starting salary: $39,900-$41,400
All levels of U.S. government seek out these majors, but so do domestic and international companies, contracting firms, nonprofits, think tanks, lobbying groups, political campaigns, aid organizations and nongovernmental entities, according to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. As with economics, degrees in government and political science are very flexible, with grads finding work in public policy, business, finance, marketing, education and legal sectors.
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, across all disciplines, hiring on the state and local levels is slower than on the federal level, those who enter in management, business and financial roles will have the greatest likelihood to land jobs.