5 best and worst master’s degrees if you want a high-paying job

It's no secret that college can be expensive. More than 44 million Americans have taken out student loans to pay for school and their debt totals $1.4 trillion. The average debt for 20-year-olds is a staggering $22,135. For 30-year-olds, it's even larger: $34,033. So, according to a report from financial-advice website Moneyish, paying yet more to get an advanced degree can be a real risk. "The average debt of a person with a Master of Arts degree hit an inflation-adjusted $59,000," it says, "up from just $38,000 in 2004." If you're planning to get your master's, you can play it safer by focusing on certain fields where students tend to earn more money after graduating, though, according to data compiled by Moneyish and compensation-data site PayScale.Here are their top five best master's degree majors to choose if you want a high-paying job:Nurse Anesthesia Early-career median pay: $143,000 Mid-career median pay: $165,000 Telecommunications Engineering Early-career median pay: $76,200 Mid-career median pay: $141,000 Finance and Economics Early-career median pay: $68,000 Mid-career median pay: $134,000 Electrical Engineering Early-career median pay: $80,600 Mid-career median pay: $130,000 Computer Engineering Early-career median pay: $86,400 Mid-career median pay: $129,000 And here are their top five worst master's degree majors to choose if you want a high-paying job:Human Services Early-career median pay: $39,500 Mid-career median pay: $46,600 Early Childhood Education Early-career median pay: $40,600 Mid-career median pay: $49,200 Professional Counseling Early-career median pay: $40,400 Mid-career median pay: $51,200 Community Counseling Early-career median pay: $40,900 Mid-career median pay: $51,700 Museum Studies Early-career median pay: $41,000 Mid-career median pay: $52,700 Of course, these numbers don't mean you shouldn't pursue your dream major or dream job. But it helps to do so with your eyes open. Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Colleges make a fortune from saying 'no' to applications—here's how much It's no secret that college can be expensive. More than 44 million Americans have taken out student loans to pay for school and their debt totals $1.4 trillion. The average debt for 20-year-olds is a staggering $22,135. For 30-year-olds, it's even larger: $34,033. So, according to a report from financial-advice website Moneyish, paying yet more to get an advanced degree can be a real risk. "The average debt of a person with a Master of Arts degree hit an inflation-adjusted $59,000," it says, "up from just $38,000 in 2004." If you're planning to get your master's, you can play it safer by focusing on certain fields where students tend to earn more money after graduating, though, according to data compiled by Moneyish and compensation-data site PayScale. Here are their top five best master's degree majors to choose if you want a high-paying job: Nurse Anesthesia Early-career median pay: $143,000 Mid-career median pay: $165,000 Telecommunications Engineering Early-career median pay: $76,200 Mid-career median pay: $141,000 Finance and Economics Early-career median pay: $68,000 Mid-career median pay: $134,000 Electrical Engineering Early-career median pay: $80,600 Mid-career median pay: $130,000 Computer Engineering Early-career median pay: $86,400 Mid-career median pay: $129,000 And here are their top five worst master's degree majors to choose if you want a high-paying job: Human Services Early-career median pay: $39,500 Mid-career median pay: $46,600 Early Childhood Education Early-career median pay: $40,600 Mid-career median pay: $49,200 Professional Counseling Early-career median pay: $40,400 Mid-career median pay: $51,200 Community Counseling Early-career median pay: $40,900 Mid-career median pay: $51,700 Museum Studies Early-career median pay: $41,000 Mid-career median pay: $52,700 Of course, these numbers don't mean you shouldn't pursue your dream major or dream job. But it helps to do so with your eyes open. Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Colleges make a fortune from saying 'no' to applications—here's how much

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