The most profitable degree courses in Poland
The most profitable degree courses in Poland are a recurring topic whenever students plan their education — and for good reason, since your field of study strongly influences future earnings and job opportunities. This article looks at which degrees perform best according to available data (ELA, GUS, wynagrodzenia.pl), and why salary figures alone shouldn't be the only factor in your decision.
What graduate earnings data shows
Poland's ELA system (Economic Fates of Graduates, nauka.gov.pl) has tracked graduate salaries for years. The data consistently shows that the highest indicative starting salaries go to graduates of technical and STEM fields — especially computer science, automation and robotics, plus some medical and financial engineering programmes. You can find a detailed breakdown in our separate article on the ranking of degrees by graduate earnings.
It's worth remembering these are indicative figures — actual pay depends on region, employer, experience and many other factors. No dataset can guarantee a specific salary.
Degrees that statistically "pay off" the most
The table below shows indicative, averaged starting salary ranges for selected groups of degrees (based on market data and ELA, roughly as of 2025/2026):
| Degree / field group | Indicative starting salary | Growth outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Computer science, IT fields | approx. PLN 6,000–10,000 gross | High |
| Automation, robotics, engineering | approx. PLN 5,500–8,000 gross | High |
| Medical fields (medicine, dentistry) | approx. PLN 5,000–7,000 gross | High (after specialisation) |
| Finance, accounting, economics | approx. PLN 4,500–6,500 gross | Medium-high |
| Law | approx. PLN 4,000–6,000 gross | High (after traineeship) |
| Humanities and social sciences | approx. PLN 3,500–5,000 gross | Depends on specialisation |
These numbers are a reference point, not a promise. In practice, two graduates of the same field can earn very differently, depending on specialisation, city, or extra skills such as programming languages, certifications, or internships.
Why salary alone isn't enough
Choosing a degree purely for the paycheck can backfire. If you lack an aptitude for analytical or technical work, an attractive salary range on paper won't translate into success — burnout after a few years is a common outcome of that choice. That's why it helps to combine earnings data with your own interests and strengths. A good starting point is the free next.movv career aptitude test, based on the RIASEC model — in 10 minutes it shows which degrees and careers fit your profile, factoring in earnings data and market demand too.
Combining profitability with future prospects
Besides current salaries, it's worth checking whether a degree leads to a career resistant to automation and technological change. Our article on how to check whether a degree has a future can help, along with our overview of jobs of the future in Poland that combine solid pay with employment stability.
Full-time, part-time or dual studies — which pays off more?
Profitability isn't just about the salary after graduation — it's also about the cost and time it takes to get there. Full-time studies at a public university are free of tuition but mean several years without full-time income. Dual or part-time programmes let you combine study with paid work, which can be financially advantageous during your studies, though it slows down the pace of learning. When comparing "profitability", it's worth counting not just the future salary, but also lost earnings during study years and any tuition fees at private institutions.
An increasingly popular alternative to classic computer science degrees is a coding bootcamp, which can shorten the path to a first job in IT. You'll find a comparison of both paths' pros and cons in our article on bootcamp vs a computer science degree.
How next.movv helps assess a degree's profitability
Instead of relying solely on averaged statistics, next.movv matches your aptitude profile (based on the RIASEC model) with real data on earnings, automation risk and market demand for the specific careers a given degree leads to. This means you see not just "how much you could statistically earn", but whether a given path actually fits you and has a chance of staying stable over the next 5-10 years.
This approach is especially useful for high-school graduates torn between several similarly prestigious degrees with different day-to-day work — say, computer science versus automation engineering, or law versus economics. The test lets you see these differences through the lens of your own strengths, not just a salary ranking.
Summary
Data on the profitability of degree courses is a valuable clue, but not the only criterion. The best decisions happen when earnings, aptitude and market prospects align. Before settling on a degree purely for its salary range, check whether it also matches your interests and working style — it's that combination, not the salary table alone, that determines long-term satisfaction with your chosen career path.
Frequently asked questions
Which degree pays the most in Poland?
According to ELA and market data, computer science, automation and robotics, and medical fields indicatively rank highest, though real pay depends on city, employer and experience.
Should I choose a degree based on salary alone?
It's not advisable as the only factor — without aptitude for the work, high salary ranges on paper rarely translate into long-term satisfaction or success.
Where does next.movv get its salary data from?
We rely on public, indicative data from ELA (nauka.gov.pl), Barometr Zawodów, GUS and wynagrodzenia.pl — always presented as ranges, never guarantees.
Can humanities degrees be profitable too?
Yes, though they usually need extra specialisation or a niche, such as UX, copyright law or marketing, to reach earnings above the average for that group.