College is fun, yes, but the school part is mostly miserable. The only reason we suffer through painfully boring lectures and amphetamine-fueled all-nighters is because we believe a degree will set us up for a decent career in four to five (to six to seven…) years. If you’re fresh out of high school, undeclared, or thinking about changing your major, consider one of the following majors, all earning over $120,000 per year on average.
Spoiler alert: Art History and Gender Studies didn’t make the list
Here are the 20 highest-earning college majors in the US and their average annual income, ranked from lowest paying to highest.
20. Physics: $121,500
19. Molecular biology: $122,000
18. Aerospace engineering: $122,200
17. Mathematics and computer science: $122,700
16. Metallurgical engineering: $123,700
15. Biochemical sciences: $125,800
14. Mining and mineral engineering: $125,800
13. Chemical engineering: $126,000
12. Chemistry majors: $126,200
11. Electrical engineering: $127,200
10. Naval architecture and marine engineering: $127,900
9. Engineering mechanics, physics, and science: $129,100
8. Engineering and industrial management: $129,330
7. Actuarial science: $129,400
6. Applied mathematics: $130,313
5. Economics: $133,200
4. Pharmacology: $135,672
3. Zoology: $141,800
2. Petroleum engineering: $156,089
1. Health and medical preparatory: $165,400
