Climate Progress Center

Majors and Careers

Channel your passions into long-term climate impact.

Every major plays a role on the path to zero emissions. Pick one to see the work, the pay, the climate solutions it powers and how to start.

13

major guides

2.5M

U.S. jobs covered

Bridges and towers of a coastal cityCivil EngineeringDesigning and maintaining bridges, roads, tunnels and pipelines$95,890median salary355,410employed in U.S.Growth 87/100 Code on a computer screenComputer ScienceDesigning and building computer systems and software$105,830median salary36,240employed in U.S.Growth 65/100 A magnifying glass over printed chartsData ScienceFinding patterns in data to make predictions and decisions$93,630median salary233,440employed in U.S.Growth 83/100 Financial charts with a calculator and penEconomicsHow societies create, share and use goods and services$115,436median salary15,880employed in U.S.Growth 63/100 Terraced rice fields from aboveEnvironmental ScienceHow nature and people are linked, and how our actions help or hurt$82,660median salary113,160employed in U.S.Growth 80/100 Stacks of bundled newspapersJournalismReporting news and telling stories that keep the public informed$45,680median salary41,550employed in U.S.Growth 45/100 Brass scales of justiceLawRepresenting and advocating for clients, and the environment$151,160median salary747,750employed in U.S.Growth 54/100 A sea turtle swimming among fishMarine BiologyStudying ocean life, from plankton to whales, in a changing sea$72,860median salary16,920employed in U.S.Growth 64/100 Billboards lit up at night in a city squareMarketingUnderstanding what people need and promoting ideas that deliver$161,030median salary384,980employed in U.S.Growth 84/100 3D-printed lattice materials held in gloved handsMaterials ScienceImproving and inventing materials, from metals to glass$104,160median salary8,330employed in U.S.Growth 86/100 Close-up of interlocking metal gearsMechanical EngineeringDesigning and building machines, from medical devices to EVs$99,510median salary286,760employed in U.S.Growth 79/100 A pencil resting on notebooksPsychologyStudying how people think, feel and behave$94,310median salary154,860employed in U.S.Growth 81/100 The U.S. Capitol domePublic PolicyShaping solutions to public problems like climate change$91,290median salary107,760employed in U.S.Growth 95/100

Compare at a glance

Median annual salary for each career path, highest to lowest.

  1. Marketing$161,030
  2. Law$151,160
  3. Economics$115,436
  4. Computer Science$105,830
  5. Materials Science$104,160
  6. Mechanical Eng.$99,510
  7. Civil Engineering$95,890
  8. Psychology$94,310
  9. Data Science$93,630
  10. Public Policy$91,290
  11. Environmental Sci.$82,660
  12. Marine Biology$72,860
  13. Journalism$45,680

Salary and employment figures as published in each Climate Progress Center major guide (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation data).

New major and career pages are added regularly.

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