Attending and graduating college is a good idea for job seekers to help them succeed in the future. Not all degrees and majors guarantee a high paying job, but some majors give a very high probability of receiving a nice annual salary.

According to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, engineering majors are bringing in the most money, making the field the best choice of a major to ensure higher wages.

Chemical Engineers Start With High Salaries

Chemical engineering majors enjoy the best salary after graduating. Early in their careers, chemical engineers earn a median salary of $70,000. Midway through their careers, between the ages of 35 and 45, chemical engineers earn a median salary of $94,000.

Majors in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) category end up having better futures and incomes than graduates who majored in non-analytic categories.

Engineering majors earn the highest average salary, making up the top eight positions in the top 12 list of salaries by major.

The top 12 majors that pay the highest annual salaries, according to the new report:

1. Chemical Engineering - $70,000
2. Electrical engineering - $61,000
3. Industrial engineering - $60,000
4. Mechanical engineering - $60,000
5. Aerospace engineering - $60,000
6. Computer engineering - $60,000
7. General engineering - $55,000
8. Miscellaneous engineering - $52,000
9. Business analytics - $50,000
10. Civil engineering - $50,000
11. Construction services - $50,000
12. Physics - $50,000

Engineering majors are provided with occupation-specific training so that when they enter the workforce they are ready to take on specific positions in chemical or mechanical engineering.

Low Salaries for Art and Family Careers

On the other side of the salary spectrum are less valuable majors such as family and consumer sciences, and theology and religion. Art majors are also likely to receive low salaries, with average wages being only $29,000 per year.

Family and consumer science positions are rewarding positions for many workers because they get to help people in their communities. However, these jobs come with a very low starting salary.

Creative individuals like artists and actors may be very talented, but they usually are not paid very well. Fine arts majors earn on average just $29,000, and performing arts majors earn just $30,000 on average

The bottom 12 majors that pay the lowest annual salaries, according to the report are:

1. Family and consumer sciences - $28,400

  • Job examples include: Marriage counselor, daycare teacher, dietitian

2. Theology and religion - $28,600

  • Job examples include: Theology instructor, chaplain, pastor/priest

3. Fine arts - $29,000

  • Job examples include: Gallery curator, artist, photographer

4. Social services - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Housing project manager, mental health counselor, outreach coordinator

5. Anthropology - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Paleontologist, museum technician, foreign service officer

6. Early childhood education - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Pre-school teacher, daycare teacher, substitute teacher

7. Environmental studies - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Air quality planner, land surveyor, solar developer

8. Psychology - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Psychologist, counselor, therapist

9. Social services - $30,000

10. Performing arts - $30,000

  • Job examples include: Actor, producer, stage manager

11. Earth sciences - $30,300

  • Job examples include: Vulcanologist, park ranger, soil scientist

12. Mass media - $31,200

  • Job examples include: Reporter, writer, on-air host
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