Are you in a job right now that relates directly to your major in college? The odds are what you studied in college did direct your career choice — but not always.
Check out this massive graphic by Ben Schmidt, assistant professor of history at Northeastern University and core faculty in the NuLab for Texts, Maps and Networks. It provides a visualization of how majors relate to professions.
(On the left are the largest college majors, and on the right are the most common professions. The data come from the American Community Survey.)
People who majored in economics most likely went to work in the judicial system as a lawyer or judge. But they also might have become an accountant or auditor, or a manager, such as in funeral services. They were least likely to become a police officer.
Biology majors used their knowledge as a base for entering the medical field. They were most likely to end up a doctor or surgeon, followed by a teacher. They were least likely to end up in sales.
Studying electrical engineering didn’t lead the largest percentage of people to become electrical engineers. Rather, they chose software development.
Where did physics majors go? They most often became college teachers, followed by software developers.
Did you enter a profession closely related to your major? Let us know in the comments. And check out the full graphic here.
