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- The 20 best college majors for people who want to change the world - and get rich while they do it
The 20 best college majors for people who want to change the world - and get rich while they do it
20. Construction management majors have a mid-career salary of $100,400 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 58%.
19. International economics majors have a mid-career salary of $105,900 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 59%.
Possible jobs with this major: Economist, foreign service officer, financial analyst, development associate, intelligence officer, legislative assistant.
Early career pay: $53,600
18. Astrophysics majors have a mid-career salary of $110,800 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 59%.
Possible jobs with this major: Software engineer, physics professor, database administrator, principal test engineer, astrophysicist.
Early career pay: $60,700
17. Electrical and electronics engineering (EEE) majors have a mid-career salary of $112,000 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 59%.
Possible jobs with this major: Control and instrumentation engineer, design engineer, electrical engineer, electronics engineer, IT consultant, network engineer.
Early career pay: $69,200
16. Nuclear engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $121,700 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 59%.
Possible jobs with this major: Electrical engineer, machinist mate, radiological engineer.
Early career pay: $70,700
15. Applied physics majors have a mid-career salary of $104,300 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 60%.
Possible jobs with this major: Nanotechnologist, physics professor, physicist.
Early career pay: $61,400
14. Petroleum engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $183,600 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 60%.
Possible jobs with this major: Information specialist, petroleum engineer.
Early career pay: $82,700
13. Evolution, ecology and biodiversity majors have a mid-career salary of $100,000 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 61%.
Possible jobs with this major: Veterinarian, pharmacist, environmental conservation, college professor.
Early career pay: $43,000
12. Construction project management majors have a mid-career salary of $106,200 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 61%.
Possible jobs with this major: Construction manager, quantity surveyor, site engineer, sustainability consultant.
Early career pay: $56,500
11. Metallurgical engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $111,100 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 61%.
Possible jobs with this major: Product engineer, research and development engineer, data architect.
Early career pay: $77,300
10. Agricultural engineering (AE) majors have a mid-career salary of $101,200 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 62%.
Possible jobs with this major: Agricultural and food scientist, environmental engineer, Hydrologist, conservation scientist.
Early career pay: $58,200
9. Bioengineering (BioE) majors have a mid-career salary of $107,000 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 63%.
Possible jobs with this major: Clinical engineer, biomedical engineer, orthopedic bioengineer.
Early career pay: $65,400
8. Mining engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $114,000 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 63%.
Possible jobs with this major: Geological engineer, geophysical engineer,
mineral engineer, mining safety engineer, seismic engineer.
Early career pay: $72,100
7. Civil engineering (CE) majors have a mid-career salary of $101,100 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 64%.
Possible jobs with this major: Consulting civil engineer, contracting civil engineer, design engineer, fire risk assessor, nuclear engineer, site engineer, structural engineer, water engineer.
Early career pay: $60,400
6. Electrical power engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $122,300 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 65%.
Possible jobs with this major: Power engineer, utilities engineer.
Early career pay: $71,300
5. Biochemistry and molecular biology majors have a mid-career salary of $103,400 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 67%.
Possible jobs with this major: Analytical chemist, biomedical scientist, biotechnologist, clinical research associate, forensic scientist, medicinal chemist.
Early career pay: $49,800
4. Structural engineering (SE) majors have a mid-career salary of $107,900 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 70%.
Possible jobs with this major: Architectural engineer, bridge engineer, construction engineer, facilities engineer, geotechnical engineer, highway engineer, hydrographic engineer, research hydraulic engineer, transportation engineer.
Early career pay: $62,400
3. Aeronautical engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $122,500 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 70%.
Possible jobs with this major: Commercial aerospace engineers, spacecraft designers, engineering, science and data processing managers, inspectors and compliance officers, mechanical engineers.
Early career pay: $67,900
2. Biomedical engineering (BME) majors have a mid-career salary of $110,300 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 71%.
Possible jobs with this major: Medicinal chemist, microbiologist, physician associate, biomedical scientist, biotechnologist, forensic scientist.
Early career pay: $66,000
1. Marine engineering majors have a mid-career salary of $126,500 a year and a "high meaning" rate of 73%.
Possible jobs with this major: Marine mechanical engineer, waterfront project engineer.
Early career pay: $72,600
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