The 20 Highest Paying College Majors

How much is your college major worth? Job search and review site Glassdoor.com recently released the results of a study in which they looked at the average earnings of people within the first five years out of college and what their college majors were. Not surprisingly, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and business fields generally pay more, but if you choose your job wisely, a major in the humanities can pay well too. Here are 20 college majors that come with decent paydays.

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/50-highest-paying-college-majors/

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20. Psychology

Glassdoor says that the median base salary for Psychology majors is US$42,000. Psychologists in Canada typically earn between C$65,000 and C$80,000 while social workers can look at between C$60,000 and C$80,000, according to Living in Canada.

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19. Education

The median base salary for Education majors is US$43,000, according to Glassdoor. Living in Canada says that elementary school teachers usually earn from C$60,000 to C$80,000 with the highest salaries in Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario. You could earn a similar salary as an education policy researcher.

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18. Interior Design

Glassdoor says that Interior Design majors earn a median base salary of US$44,098. In Canada, interior designers usually earn between C$45,000 and C$65,000, with the highest wages in Calgary, according to Living in Canada.

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17. Journalism

Journalism majors, according to Glassdoor, earn a median base salary of US$45,000. Living in Canada says that journalists earn from C$45,000 to C$65,000 but in public relations, you can earn between C$50,000 and C$70,000.

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16. Human Resources

People who have majored in Human Resources earn a median base salary of US$45,000, according to Glassdoor. Living in Canada says that an HR specialist can earn from C$65,000 to C$75,000 while a personnel or recruitment officer typically earns between C$45,000 and C$65,000.

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15. History

Glassdoor says that History majors earn a median base salary of US$45,000. In Canada, according to Living in Canada, you can earn from C$35,000 to C$45,000 working in a museum, but you’ll earn almost twice as much if you become a History teacher instead.

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14. Political Science

The median base salary for Political Science majors is US$45,000, according to Glassdoor. Living in Canada says that a paralegal, a popular entry-level job for someone who majored in Political Science, earns C$40,000 to C$60,000. You could also become a social policy researcher or consultant for between C$50,000 and C$70,000.

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13. Graphic Design

Glassdoor says that the median base salary for Graphic Design majors is US$45,846. In Canada, according to Living in Canada, graphic designers typically earn from C$40,000 to C$60,000 and Edmonton offers the highest wages.

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12. Architecture

Architecture is another major that earns a median base salary of US$50,000, according to the Glassdoor study. Architects in Canada earn between C$60,000 and C$85,000, Living in Canada says, and Alberta offers the highest salaries.

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11. Biotechnology

Glassdoor says that Biotechnology majors earn a median base salary of US$50,000. According to Living in Canada, a medical lab technician typically earns from C$40,000 to C$50,000 and the highest wages are to be found in Halifax.

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10. Physics

The median base salary for Physics majors is US$50,000, according to Glassdoor. Living in Canada says that physicists can earn between C$70,000 and C$110,000 and for the highest salaries, you need to head to Alberta.

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9. Mathematics

Mathematics majors earn a median base salary of US$54,018, according to Glassdoor. According to Living in Canada, a high school teacher earns between C$60,000 and C$80,000 and Kitchener, Waterloo and Barrie offer the highest salaries. You could also use that math degree for higher-paying jobs like software engineers or data analysts.

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8. Finance

If you’re a Finance major, you can expect to earn a median base salary of US$54,900, Glassdoor says. Living in Canada says that a financial analyst earns between C$50,000 and C$70,000 and Alberta offers the highest salaries.

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7. Nursing

Nursing majors earn a median base salary of US$58,928, according to the Glassdoor study. Living in Canada says that registered nurses in the country earn from C$65,000 to C$75,000, with the highest salaries in Edmonton.

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6. Statistics

Glassdoor says that the median base salary for Statistics majors is US$60,000. In Canada, statisticians, mathematicians, and actuaries earn from C$70,000 to C$90,000, with Ontario offering the highest wages, according to Living in Canada.

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5. Information Technology

If you major in Information Technology, you can look at a median base salary of US$64,008, according to Glassdoor. Computer programmers and interactive media developers earn from C$60,000 to C$80,000, Living in Canada says.

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4. Chemical Engineering

Glassdoor says the median base salary for Chemical Engineering majors is US$65,000. In Canada, a chemical engineer can earn C$70,000 to C$95,000, with the highest wages in Alberta, according to Living in Canada.

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3. Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering majors earn a median base salary of US$68,000, according to the Glassdoor study. Living in Canada says that Canada-based mechanical engineers can look at a salary of C$65,000 to C$85,000 and Alberta offers the highest hourly wages.

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2. Electrical Engineering

According to Glassdoor, Electrical Engineering majors earn a median base salary of US$68,438. Electrical engineers can earn between C$70,000 and C$90,000 in Canada, with the highest wages in Calgary, Living in Canada says.

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1. Computer Science

Glassdoor says that the median base salary for people who majored in Computer Science is US$70,000 per year, making it the highest-paying major. According to the website Living in Canada, a software engineer in Canada typically earns between C$70,000 and C$95,000 while a web developer earns between C$50,000 and C$70,000.