Top 10 Highest paying STEM courses in the US

Taking a course in STEM in the U.S. can improve your chances of being employable which will in turn increase your income at the end of the day. According to the U.S. Department of Labour, STEM jobs will increase by 10.8% between 2021 and 2031. This implies that the demand for skills related to STEM courses will increase in the coming years. Hence, the reason to acquire the necessary skills is so that it’ll be profitable in the long run. 

Benefits of Studying STEM Courses in the U.S.

1. Global Perspective

International students who study in America would have access to a broad range of insights and perspectives. This is made possible because of the diversity and open-mindedness the U.S. culture encourages. Students from America and international students alike will get to benefit from each other by learning about the uniqueness of different cultures. 

2. High-Income: 

People who have tech skills, or who are grounded in the knowledge of courses in STEM will have the opportunity to get high-paying jobs as these are the skills that are currently in demand. The fast-changing world that is now adapting to technological advancements and improvements will need people grounded in these skills to ensure sustainability. 

3. Access to Opportunities

Studying a STEM course in the U.S. allows you to access opportunities as technology and science is a field that is embraced by that terrain. Access to jobs related to STEM and research opportunities are also available to international students who major in this discipline. 

4. Robust Curriculum

The U.S. houses some of the top universities in the world. It is generally accepted that the quality of education will be high. This makes it one of the best places to pursue STEM courses. Additionally, international students who study STEM courses in prominent universities will equally have an edge because of the quality of education offered in these un universities and the standard they have been able to maintain all through these years. 

5. Work Authorization 

This is another reason TEM courses are beneficial to international students. Obtaining a degree in the STEM field provides international students with the opportunity to work for up to 3 years after obtaining the degree. But it should be noted that this is for mostly students with F1 visas. This work authorization comes in the form of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) that lasts for as long as 12 months. After this, students with F1 visas have the privilege of obtaining an additional 2 years of work authorization which is called STEM OPT Extension.

Top 10 Highest Paying STEM Courses in the U.S. 

Below is the list of the top 10 most lucrative stem courses in the U.S and the universities that offers these courses:

1. Petroleum Engineering

Median Salary: $130,850 per year ($62.91 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 22,800

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 8%

Petroleum engineers develop methods by which oil and gas can be extracted from the earth. The world functions on energy, which is very vital to human activities, thereby making petroleum engineering an important and high-demand course. Petroleum engineers work in offices or at drilling and well sites

Universities in the U.S. that offers Petroleum Engineering.

• 1. University of Texas at Austin
• 2. Stanford University
• 3. Texas A&M University – College Station
• 4. Colorado School of Mines
• 5. University of Oklahoma – Norman

2. Computer Engineering

Median Salary: $128,170 per year ($61.62 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 76,900

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 5%

Computer engineers are responsible for designing, developing and testing computer systems and components. They mostly work in research labs that build and test different computer models. They may also be responsible for updating existing computer hardware or manufacturing new ones. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Computer Engineering.

1. Stanford University
2. University of California – Berkeley
3. Carnegie Mellon University
4. Georgia Institute of Technology
5. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

3. Mathematics and Statisticians

Median Salary: $96,280 per year ($46.29 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 36,100

Minimum Educational Requirement: Master’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 31%

They are responsible for analyzing data and using standard approaches to solve problems. Their top employers are research companies, development companies and the federal government. They also usually work in teams with engineers, scientists and other professionals.

Universities in the U.S. that offers Mathematics and Statistics

1. Stanford University
2. Harvard University
3. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
4. University of California – Berkeley
5. University of Washington – Seattle

4. Software Development

Median Salary: $109,020 per year ($52.41 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 1,622,200

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 25%

Software developers are responsible for designing computer applications /software. They work in computer system design and related services in manufacturing. They work in offices or teams with other professionals. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Software Development

1. Carnegie Mellon University
2. Stanford University
3. University of California – Berkeley
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5. University of Maryland – College Park

5. Aerospace Engineering

Median Salary: $122,270 per year ($58.78 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 58,800

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 6%

Aerospace engineers are responsible for designing, developing and test-running aircraft, spaceships, satellites and missiles. They often work in an office with like-minded individuals and can spend as much as 40 hours per week. They work on projects relating to national defence too. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Aerospace Engineering.

1. Stanford University
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
4. University of California – Berkeley
5. Harvard University

6. Nuclear Engineering

Median Salary: $120,380 per year ($57.87 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021):13,900

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): -11%

Nuclear engineers work in office settings or as specified by their employers.  They conduct research and develop projects that address problems relating to the release, control, and use of nuclear energy and disposal. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Nuclear Engineering.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. University of Wisconsin – Madison
3. Princeton University
4. Pennsylvania State University
5.  University of California – Berkeley

7. Actuarial Science

Median Salary: $105,900 per year ($50.91 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 28,300

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 21%

Actuarial Science involves the use of mathematics, statistics and financial theories to analyze the economic cost of risk and uncertainty. They work in insurance companies. They can also work as consultants.

Universities in the U.S. that offers Actuarial Science.

1. University of Pennsylvania
2. Harvard University
3. University of Chicago
4. New York University
5. Stanford University

8. Electrical Engineering

Median Salary: $101,780 per year ($48.93 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 303,800

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 3%

Electrical engineers are responsible for designing, developing and test-running electrical equipment. They mostly work in offices except when they want to examine certain problems or equipment. They work in telecommunications. Manufacturing and even for the federal government. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Electrical Engineering.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford University
3. University of California – Berkeley
4. Georgia Institute of Technology
5. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

9.  Computer Network Architecture

Median Salary: $120,520 per year ($57.94 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 174,800

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 4%

Computer network architects design, build and test-run data communication networks like local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets. Some of them work full-time for more than 40 hours a week. 

Universities in the U.S. that offers Computer Network Architecture.

1. Stanford University
2. University of California – Berkeley
3. Georgia Institute of Technology
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5. Carnegie Mellon University

10. Database Administration

Median Salary: $101,000 per year ($48.56 per hour)

Number of Jobs (2021): 144,500

Minimum Educational Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree

Job Growth Rate (2021-2031): 9%

Database administrators create and organize systems that make the storage of data easier. They can work in firms and provide computer design services or industries that generate a large database. For example, the educational sector, insurance, etc.

Universities in the U.S. that offers Database Administration.

1. University of Wisconsin – Madison
2. Stanford University
3. University of California – Berkeley
4. University of Washington – Seattle
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eligibility requirements to study STEM Courses in the U.S.

When it comes to the eligibility requirements, it varies across the different universities and courses of study. However:

• For the bachelor’s degree programme in STEM, it is necessary to complete your high school education first. You must also pass chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. For the master’s level, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in any STEM field with a CGPA of 3.0/4.0
• Students must possess a F-1 USA student visa.
• Students should be eligible for STEM OPT
• GRE or GMAT and English language proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS or PTE are necessary. 

Necessary Documents

Below is the list of the necessary documents you will need to study STEM courses in the U.S. They are:

• ● Passport scanned copy
• ● SOP (Statement of Purpose). 
• ● Official transcripts and mark sheets of school and college
• ● Two Reference Letters
• ● Scores in English language proficiency tests
• ● Resume or CV
• ● LOR (Letter of Recommendation). 
• ● Translation of degree certificate in case it is in any other language (not in English)

Start Your Journey Today

Thinking of pursuing a career in STEM? At EdXtra Associates, we provide you with the information you need to proceed on this path. Additionally, we are available to guide you through the process so as to make things easy for you. If you will also love to receive updates on scholarship opportunities and insightful articles like this one, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking this link.