Best University Degrees for Employment and Salary in Spain

Medicine and Nursing lead labor insertion rates in Spain, according to a survey of 800 university students conducted by Fundación CYD. While personal affinity (30%) and vocation (27%) remain the primary drivers for degree selection, labor insertion (15%) has become a decisive factor for students balancing academic interests with future salary prospects.

Which degrees offer the highest employment and salaries?

Medicine reports the highest average annual contribution base of all studied fields at 41,333 euros, with 92.17% of graduates affiliated with Social Security four years after completing their studies, according to Fundación CYD data.

Nursing shows the highest overall employment rate, with 97.7% of graduates affiliated with Social Security four years post-graduation. The survey notes that nearly all nursing professionals work in positions that match their level of training.

Did You Know? Despite high market demand, computer science degrees represent less than 5% of the total undergraduate student population in Spain.

How do technology and engineering degrees perform?

Technological degrees maintain high market value. Computer Engineering graduates show an 89.77% Social Security affiliation rate four years after graduation, with an average annual contribution base of 36,772 euros, per the Fundación CYD report.

Industrial Engineering graduates reach an average annual contribution base of 34,582 euros. Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering also show strong results, with an affiliation rate of 86.75%.

Why is there a gap in Business, Law, and Education?

Business Administration and Management (ADE) and Economics attract the highest number of students, but role alignment varies. ADE graduates have a 77.24% affiliation rate and an average contribution base of 29,080 euros, while Economics graduates average 31,155 euros.

Fundación CYD found that fewer than half of graduates in both ADE and Economics work in positions specifically classified for university graduates. A similar trend appears in Law, where 61.64% of graduates are affiliated with Social Security four years after obtaining their degree.

Education degrees show a high employment rate of 78.68%. However, this field records the lowest remuneration of all analyzed areas, with an average annual contribution base of 24,546 euros.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the data reveals a stark contrast between employment volume and role quality. While degrees like Sociology and Journalism maintain moderate employment rates, the low percentage of graduates in matching roles suggests a significant trend of overqualification in the social sciences.

What are the risks of overqualification in Social Sciences?

Social Science degrees face the most complex labor transitions. In Journalism, 76.26% of graduates are affiliated with Social Security, but only 36.2% occupy positions corresponding to university graduates, according to the survey.

Sociology reports the lowest rate of professional alignment. Although 65.29% of graduates are employed, only 23.2% hold positions matching their level of study.

What may happen next for university enrollment?

As the pre-registration process begins, students could increasingly rely on labor insertion data to guide their choices. This shift may lead to higher enrollment in health and tech sectors if students prioritize salary and role alignment over personal affinity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which degree has the highest average salary in Spain?
According to Fundación CYD, Medicine has the highest average annual contribution base at 41,333 euros.

What is the main reason students choose their degree?
Personal affinity is the leading factor at 30%, followed by vocation at 27%.

Which degree has the lowest rate of graduates working in matching roles?
Sociology, where only 23.2% of graduates occupy positions corresponding to their level of studies.

Would you prioritize your personal vocation or guaranteed labor insertion when choosing a career path?