19 Most Stressful College Majors and How Much They Pay

Some of the hardest majors tend to win the admiration of employers and attract higher starting salaries the easiest. But before you reap the fruits, you will have to work hard and focus more than other college students first.

College majors in the STEM field tend to be the most stressful, such as engineering and architecture. The same is true for many of those in the medical or healthcare field, including nursing and neuroscience. There are also stressful majors from other fields, such as accounting and related areas.

Deciding on a major is one of the most personal and difficult decisions college students have to make. And thinking about choosing one that is known to be packed with grueling coursework is already stressful enough!

No matter your reason for getting an idea of the most stressful majors, be it to complete one to have a higher salary after graduation or dodge one to keep failing grades away, read on. Below, we will talk about some college majors that will certainly flex your brain and put your motivation, commitment and discipline to the test.

Biomedical Engineering

One of the most challenging college majors around is Biomedical Engineering. It isn’t surprising because it combines science, biology, medicine and engineering courses.

Students majoring in Biomedical Engineering need to get all the medicine- and engineering-related knowledge and skills they can get because, in the future, they will be tasked with designing medical devices and therapies. It’s not uncommon for Biomedical Engineering majors to minor in Physiology and Organic Chemistry.

• Average hourly salary: $44.53
• Average annual salary: $92,620

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Biomedical Engineering:

• Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing
• Scientific research and development services
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Medical and control instruments manufacturing
• General medical and surgical hospitals

Related Article: What Does Pre-Major Mean?

Chemical Engineering

Majoring in Chemical Engineering allows students to learn about chemicals and how to put them to work.

Because of this, they help improve the use of chemicals by manufacturers and factories in order to come up with new products and improve existing ones. Chemical Engineering majors also help solve many everyday problems, from rust to pimples.

Although stressful, what’s nice about a Chemical Engineering major is that there are many minors that can complement it. They include Science, Mathematics, Business, and closely- and less-related Engineering disciplines.

• Average hourly salary: $52.18
• Average annual salary: $108,540

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Chemical Engineering:

• Chemical manufacturing
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Scientific research and development services
• Petroleum and coal products manufacturing
• Oil and gas extraction

Mathematics

Because up to 88% of high school students hate math, it doesn’t come as a surprise why not too many first-year college students think about choosing Mathematics as a major when it’s time to declare one.

For students who hate numbers, Mathematics is a stressful major. For students who like them, it’s both challenging and rewarding.

To make majoring in Mathematics even more meaningful, especially after graduation, it can be paired with minors such as Business, Economics, Statistics, and Computer Science.

• Average hourly salary: $53.30
• Average annual salary: $110,860

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Mathematics:

• Federal executive branch
• Scientific research and development services
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Computer systems design and related services

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering, Data Science, Business, Management, Psychology, the Humanities — these are just a few examples of the many different minors that go well with a Mechanical Engineering major.

One of the primary reasons why Mechanical Engineering is a stressful major is the fact that its courses are some of the most difficult on the face of the planet. Students will have to study the likes of Physics, Chemistry, Engineering Mechanics, Advanced Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Power Plant Engineering.

• Average hourly salary: $43.35
• Average annual salary: $90,160

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Mechanical Engineering:

• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Machinery manufacturing
• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
• Scientific research and development services
• Federal executive branch

Related Article: When Is It Too Late to Change College Major?

Physics

Students majoring in Physics study matter and energy. Along the way, they develop vital critical thinking skills such as analysis, interpretation and problem-solving. It’s because of this why many of those who major in Physics usually become educators, researchers and inventors after graduation.

The best minors for students majoring in Physics to opt for include those in the STEM field, too. Some common examples are Mathematics, Chemistry, Electronics and Computer Science.

• Average hourly salary: $62.43
• Average annual salary: $129,850

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Physics:

• Scientific research and development services
• Federal executive branch
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Management, scientific and technical consulting services

Architecture

To be able to plan and design residential and non-residential structures, Architecture majors have to study the history and theory of design. While doing that, they need to obtain practical experience in creating layouts.

Because of the involvement of numbers, being good in math is an advantage. It’s also important for any student who would like to major in Architecture to have excellent time management skills.

That’s because it’s not uncommon for Architecture majors to spend a little more than 20 hours per week on coursework.

• Average hourly salary: $39.58
• Average annual salary: $82,320

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Architecture:

• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Residential building construction
• Non-residential building construction
• Federal executive branch
• Specialized design services

Astronomy

Students majoring in Astronomy study how the universe came into being as well as everything that exists within it, from black holes to asteroids. With coursework such as Binary Systems, Interstellar Medium and Newtonian Cosmology, someone who wishes to pick Astronomy as a major should be ready to face some intellectual challenges.

The majority of minors that complement Astronomy are in the STEM field. Some of the best ones include Mathematics, Geology, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science.

• Average hourly salary: $57.56
• Average annual salary: $119,730

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Astronomy:

• Scientific research and development services
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• Museums, historical sites and similar institutions
• Federal executive branch
• Business or private industries

Related Article: Can You Have Multiple Majors and Minors in College?

Chemistry

There are many different career paths that Chemistry majors may take after graduation. They can become all sorts of things, ranging from professors, chemical engineers, laboratory technicians, doctors, forensics scientists, research scientists, materials scientists to environmental consultants.

Majoring in Chemistry allows for the development of various skills. They include analysis, organization, research and attention to detail. Good minors for Chemistry majors are those that prepare them for their chosen careers.

• Average hourly salary: $38.13
• Average annual salary: $79,300

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Chemistry:

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Scientific research and development services
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Chemical manufacturing
• Federal executive branch

Computer Science

Students who wish to major in Computer Science should gear up for studying areas such as the Theory of Computing, Computer Systems and Networks, Database Systems, Programming Languages, Software Engineering, Vision and Graphics, Numerical Analysis, and Artificial Intelligence.

There are many things that Computer Science majors should master. But the good news is that there are also many jobs waiting for them after college — just about any industry that requires the use of a computer needs them.

• Average hourly salary: $43.92
• Average annual salary: $91,350

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Computer Science:

• Computer systems design and related services
• Management of companies and enterprises
• Software publishing
• Management, scientific and technical consulting services
• Data processing, hosting and related services

Aerospace Engineering

Refrain from assuming that majoring in Aerospace Engineering means you have nowhere else to go but up in outer space. That’s because there are many job opportunities waiting for you after college without the need to hop on a spaceship. Some of them are design engineers, materials engineers, CAD technicians, and teachers.

Because of the types of work available for Aerospace Engineering majors, students should be able to impress in minors such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Programming.

• Average hourly salary: $57.02
• Average annual salary: $118,610

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Aerospace Engineering:

• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Medical and control instruments manufacturing
• Scientific research and development services
• Federal executive branch

Biology

A major in Biology allows students to become all sorts of scientists specializing in living organisms, from humans, animals to plants. Some common examples include environmental biologists, marine biologists, medical biologists, evolutionary biologists, zoologists, mycologists and botanists.

Minors that complement a Biology major will depend on which career path a student would like to take. For instance, someone who wishes to become a human biologist may go for Psychology or Foreign Language.

• Average hourly salary: $41.00
• Average annual salary: $85,290

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Biology:

• Federal executive branch
• Scientific research and development services
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• Management, scientific and technical consulting services
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Electrical Engineering

Electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism are not the only things that Electrical Engineering majors have to master. They also need to study Mathematics and Physics and be able to apply them for the processing of information and transmission of energy. After graduation, they will immerse themselves in the forefront of practical technology.

Many college students majoring in Electrical Engineering minor in various STEM fields such as Computer Science, Optics, and Mathematics. Some also minor in English, Foreign Language, History, and even Arts.

• Average hourly salary: $48.48
• Average annual salary: $100,830

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Electrical Engineering:

• Architectural, engineering, and related services
• Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
• Navigational, measuring and control instruments manufacturing
• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
• Scientific research and development services         

Related Article: Does It Matter Where You Go to College for Engineering?

Geology

Many students believe that majoring in Geology is easy since, after all, it’s just the study of rocks. Unfortunately, that is far from the case — Geology is one of the hardest majors around. That’s because it’s also about the planet’s history and its physical aspects, and the forces that affect it.

The majority of Geology majors minor in History, Biology, Physics and Mathematics because the knowledge and skills they will obtain from studying them can come in handy after earning their college degree.

• Average hourly salary: $24.34
• Average annual salary: $50,630

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Geology:

• Support activities for mining
• Oil and gas extraction
• Management, scientific and technical consulting services
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• Business or private industries

Neuroscience

If you are thinking about majoring in Neuroscience, you will focus on just about anything and everything necessary for a deeper understanding of the brain as well as the nervous system. The coursework involved is a combination of Psychology, Chemistry, Psychopharmacology, Neurobiology of Memory and Learning, etc.

Since the brain is arguably the most important vital organ there is, it’s no wonder why Neuroscience majors can get employed in an assortment of industries, ranging from academia, research to pharmaceuticals.

• Average hourly salary: $26.05
• Average annual salary: $54,180

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Neuroscience:

• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories
• Other ambulatory health care services
• Physician offices
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions

Petroleum Engineering

The reason why Petroleum Engineering is one of the most stressful college majors around is that there are many skills students have to learn before graduation. They include solving problems, being a team player and working under pressure. In addition, they have to be very good with numbers.

Being in the STEM field, some of the best minors for students who are majoring in Petroleum Engineering are Computer Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or any other hard science.

• Average hourly salary: $66.02
• Average annual salary: $137,330

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Petroleum Engineering:

• Oil and gas extraction
• Support activities for mining
• Company and enterprise management
• Petroleum and coal products manufacturing
• Architectural, engineering and related services

Accounting

Just because Accounting is a major that lots of college students go for doesn’t mean that it’s easy. If truth be told, many of those who choose to major in it wind up stressed, especially the ones who would like to have an impressive transcript. It’s for the fact that they have to master the skills necessary for managing a business or organization’s finances.

There are many minors that go very well with an Accounting major. Some good examples include Business, Management, Finance, Mathematics, Computer Science, English and Foreign Language.

• Average hourly salary: $20.39
• Average annual salary: $42,410

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Accounting:

• Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services
• Company and enterprise management
• Credit intermediation and related activities
• Real estate
• Local government

Civil Engineering

Simply put, majoring in Civil Engineering allows you to focus on the built environment, which includes roads, railroads, bridges, subway systems, airports, dams, canals — practically everything around you that’s been built.

It’s because of this why college students who major in Civil Engineering end up being employed in various industries. But before that happens, they will have to master subjects that have something to do with designing, building and also maintaining various man-made products and constructions.

• Average hourly salary: $42.58
• Average annual salary: $88,570

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Civil Engineering:

• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Non-residential building construction
• Federal executive branch
• State government
• Local government

Biochemistry

As the name suggests, students who choose Biochemistry as their college major will have to focus on both Biology and Chemistry, which is a combination of two of the most challenging STEM fields. That’s because majoring in Biochemistry is all about studying the chemistry of living organisms.

Some of the most important skills students majoring in Biochemistry will develop include communication, critical thinking, time management and doing math. This is why, after graduation, they can get employed in many industries.

• Average hourly salary: $45.32
• Average annual salary: $94,270

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Biochemistry:

• Scientific research and development services
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Company and enterprise management
• Colleges, universities and professional institutions
• Architectural, engineering and related services

Nursing

If you are looking for a college major that will let you make a lot of money and change the lives of people for the better, too, then look no further than Nursing. However, make sure that you are willing to subject yourself to a lot of challenges during college and after getting your hands on your degree.

When it comes to choosing which minor you should pair with a Nursing major, the choices are practically endless. Some of the best examples are Nutrition, Health Care Administration, Sociology, Psychology and Foreign Language.

• Average hourly salary: $36.22
• Average annual salary: $75,330

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Nursing:

• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Outpatient care centers
• Physician offices
• Home health care services
• Nursing care facilities

There are so many college majors to choose from. Some institutions offer just a few tens, while others have a couple of hundreds. What’s more, some majors are simply more difficult and thus more stressful than the rest. And if you happen to pick one, you will have to gear up for a challenging college as well as a rewarding career afterward.

Above, we talked about some of the most stressful majors out there.

It’s completely up to you if you will choose any of them or dodge them at all costs. When choosing a college major, always keep in mind your strengths, passions in life, and career goals.

Note: All average hourly and annual salaries are from the website of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).