Doctors lead earnings, but maritime graduates follow closely

Doctors, dentists and veterinarians had the highest incomes one year after graduation, while maritime degrees from universities of applied sciences ranked just behind them, according to a Yle analysis of Statistics Finland data.

The analysis covers people who graduated in 2023 and looks at their circumstances a year later. It also compares employment and income by degree and educational institution. Yle reports that health, education, public authority and technology fields had the strongest employment outcomes, while unemployment was most common among graduates in humanities and the arts.

Maritime work comes with long stretches away

Maritime graduates’ high incomes are linked to long work periods at sea and extra pay for shift work and demanding conditions. Ship engineering student Toivo Partiainen told Yle that workers are paid partly for being away from home, sometimes working for four weeks in a row.

Olli-Pekka Brunila, who leads logistics and maritime education at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, said the degree can lead to a monthly salary of more than 5,000 euros. He said the field had recently attracted a record number of applicants and offered work opportunities.

Income differences between schools need context

Yle’s data shows that graduates with the same degree can have different median incomes depending on where they studied. For example, business information technology graduates from Lapland University of Applied Sciences had a median income 935 euros higher than those from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. Telecommunications engineering graduates from Aalto University had incomes 800 euros higher than graduates from the University of Oulu.

Yle cautions that school comparisons do not account for all differences between graduates. Some students study while already working, and study formats can vary. Regional demand for workers and an institution’s reputation may also affect income levels.

The figures measure income, not just salary. They are calculated after taxes and social security contributions, but also include items such as dividend income and benefits.