By Jillian Baker

According to CollegeChoice.net the following are the highest paying careers for college graduates:

Petroleum Engineering:

Petroleum engineers work with a team specialist to locate natural reservoirs of petroleum deposits. Their work includes developing the most cost-efficient and effective methods using chemistry, mathematics, geology and engineering.

Average Salary: $102,300 to $176,300

Actuarial Mathematics:

According to CollegeChoice.net, “An actuary is a business professional who analyzes the financial consequences of risk.” They use mathematics, statistics and theory to study these potential risks. They work for insurance companies, consulting firms, governments and other large corporations.

Average Salary: $60,800 to $119,600

Nuclear Engineering:

According to CollegeChoice.net, “Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation.” Typically, nuclear engineers work to find uses for radioactive materials for medical diagnosis and treatments.

Average Salary: $67,000 to $118,000

Chemical Engineering:

A chemical engineer works with the design, development, construction and operation of industrial processes for the production of a diverse range of products, as well as in commodity and specialty chemicals. Relevant industries include oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, energy, water treatment, food and drink, plastics and toiletries.

Average Salary: $69,600 to $116,700

Electronics and Communications Engineering:

Electronics is the technology associated with electronic circuits and systems. Electronics engineers use scientific knowledge of the behavior and effects of electrons to design, develop and test components, devices, systems or equipment that use electricity as part of their source of power. Work can be found in a variety of areas including acoustics, medical instruments, mobile phones, nanotechnology and radio and satellite communication.

Average Salary: $64,100 to $113,200

Computer Science:

A computer engineer, also called a software engineer, develops, tests and evaluates the software that makes our computers work.

Average Salary: $66,700 to $112,600

Aerospace Engineer:

Aerospace engineers design components of spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, missiles and other types of aerospace products. They can focus of working on flight mechanics, propulsion, control systems, thermodynamics, navigation, control systems or structural design.

Average Salary: $64,700 to $107,900

Electrical Engineer:

Electrical engineers are responsible for implementing electrical components into any number of devices that use electricity. They

help to design and manufacture electrical products of all shapes and sizes, making it a career constantly on the cutting edge.

Average Salary: $65,900 to $107,900

Materials Science and Engineering:

Materials engineers develop, process and test materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and other substances to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical and chemical requirements.

Average Salary: $64,000 to $109,100

Physicists:

Physicists study the laws and properties that govern matter, space, time and energy. Physicists typically specialize in one specific topic.

Average Salary: $57,200 to $105,100

Statistician:

Statisticians use mathematical techniques to analyze and draw conclusions from large amounts of data.

Average Salary: $54,900 to $103,100

Mechanical Engineer:

Mechanical engineers provide solutions to the development of processes and products for machinery, vehicles or a large plant. They go through all of the steps of research, develop, design and manufacture ranging from small component designs to extremely large plant, machinery or vehicles.

Average Salary: $62,100 to $101,600

Software Engineer:

Systems developers maintain, audit and improve organizational support systems by working on the internal operations of computers, using existing systems or incorporating new technologies to meet particular needs, often as advised by a systems analyst or architect. They test both hard and software systems and diagnose and resolve system faults.

Average Salary: $61,700 to $99,800

Business and Information Technology:

An IT consultant works with clients, advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. They work to improve the structure and efficiency of IT systems in various organizations.

Average Salary: $56,900 to $99,100