If you’re thinking about taking a gap year between high school and college, one of the most important things to consider is what kind of career you want to have after graduation. College majors can be divided into three main categories: arts and humanities, business, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Each of these fields has different paths to success.

As you might expect, the highest-paying majors tend to be in the STEM category—but not always! The right choice for your interests and personality can help you find success in any field. Here are some examples of the most popular college majors ranked by salary:

1. Petroleum Engineering
2. Chemical Engineering
3. Electrical Engineering/Computer Science
4. Mathematics/Statistics
5. Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering

College majors with the highest salaries

Here’s a list of college majors that are most likely to lead to lucrative careers:

1. Petroleum Engineering: $120,000 average starting salary
2. Nuclear Engineering: $99,000 average starting salary
3. Aerospace Engineering: $97,000 average starting salary
4. Chemical Engineering: $92,000 average starting salary

College Majors With Highest Salary

The latest data from the Fed shows that the top 15 college majors with the highest median wages among bachelor’s degree holders graduates 22 to 27 years old are:

1. Computer Engineering: $74,000
2. Computer Science: $70,000
3. Aerospace Engineering: $70,000
4. Chemical Engineering: $70,000
5. Electrical Engineering: $70,000
6. Industrial Engineering: $69,000
7. Mechanical Engineering: $68,000
8. Miscellaneous Engineering: $65,000
9. Civil Engineering: $63,000
10. General Engineering: $62,000
11. Economics: $60,000
12. Construction Services: $60,000
13. Business Analytics: $60,000
14. Finance: $60,000
15. Physics: $55,000

The New York Fed’s labor market outcomes tool includes information about unemployment, underemployment, and the percent of bachelor’s degree holders of each major that go on to pursue a graduate degree. These components help paint a more complete picture of the job trajectory for each college major.

Engineering majors also earn the highest median wages mid-career. Chemical engineering graduates ages 35 to 45 make a median wage of $111,000. However, other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors, like pharmacy and computer science, also see six-figure or higher median wages mid-career.