The Bachelor’s Degree Jobs with
the Most Earning Potential
The current trend in higher education is for students to proceed to a master’s program after earning a bachelor’s degree. Though these advanced degrees can increase your earning potential, many high-paying jobs only require undergraduate degrees.
Many colleges and universities offer online bachelor’s degree programs that can get you started from the comfort of your own home. It may not be easy to land a job right out of college, but you’ll have a strong foundation to excel in your career.
The highest-paying bachelor’s degree jobs may require a lower barrier of entry on paper, but they’ll require plenty of commitment to succeed. Read below to learn more about the best jobs for people with bachelor’s degrees.
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree?
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree that students earn from a college or university. These degrees usually require four years of study, but there are a few ways students can shorten this time. If you earn an associate degree, you can transfer your credits and pay less in the long run.
Why You Should Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree increases your earning potential by about 67 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Besides having more money and knowledge, several interesting jobs require their candidates to have a bachelor’s degree. You’ll also be able to study the subjects you are passionate about.
Read below to learn the basics about the most lucrative bachelor’s degree jobs. All information has been sourced from the BLS.
Quick Look at the Top 15 Highest-Paying Bachelor’s Degree Careers
Profession | Average Salary with a Bachelor’s Degree |
---|---|
Computer and Information Systems Manager | $151,150 |
Architectural and Engineering Manager | $149,530 |
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager | $141,490 |
Petroleum Engineer | $137,330 |
Financial Manager | $134,180 |
Sales Manager | $132,290 |
Airline and Commercial Pilot | $130,440 |
Compensation and Benefits Manager | $125,130 |
Human Resources Manager | $121,220 |
Computer Hardware Engineer | $119,560 |
Aerospace Engineer | $118,610 |
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager | $118,430 |
Computer Network Architect | $116,780 |
Nuclear Engineer | $116,140 |
Training and Development Manager | $115,640 |
The 15 Highest-Paying Bachelor’s Degree Careers
Many of the highest-paying bachelor’s degree jobs require a good amount of work experience to reach a managerial level. These jobs range from computer science to research and development. Whether you want to fly airplanes or build computing applications, you can find the best role for you.
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Average Salary: $151,150
Computer and information systems managers perform many duties depending on their job title and place of work. This field encompasses everything from chief technology officers at Fortune 500 companies to IT directors at local banks. Managers at smaller companies usually recommend hardware and software solutions.
You’ll make tech recommendations to other executives and negotiate with vendors to secure the best deals. With a bachelor’s degree, you will start in the IT department of a company and gain more experience. You may need more schooling for an executive role.
Architectural and Engineering Manager
Average Salary: $149,530
Architectural and engineering managers have different roles depending on whether they work in construction or manufacturing. Both sides hire and supervise staff, ensure precise work, and propose budgets to higher-ups.
Both sides can direct activities on construction sites, but engineering managers ensure that manufacturing sites efficiently produce quality goods. You can usually enter this field with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, but you may need more schooling to ascend to the highest ranks.
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager
Average Salary: $141,490
Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers work to build buzz around goods or services. They usually work within advertising agencies or in a large company’s advertising department.
This job requires a diverse set of skills. These managers have to budget advertising campaigns, negotiate with media outlets, meet with clients, and evaluate marketing materials. You can get started in this field with a degree in many different fields including management, economics, finance, graphic design, or computer science.
Petroleum Engineer
Average Salary: $137,330
Petroleum engineers develop ways to extract oil and gas from underground deposits. They design the extraction equipment, develop extraction plans, ensure equipment is installed properly, and create solutions for difficult projects.
Plenty of engineering bachelor’s degrees can help you get started in this field. Many schools offer a dedicated petroleum engineering program, but employers will prefer people with Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering. Work experience will help you advance in the field.
Financial Manager
Average Salary: $134,180
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Sales Manager
Average Salary: $132,290
Sales managers oversee the sales operations of organizations. They set goals, analyze data, make decisions about strategy, manage people, and train teams. They also look at an organization’s sales statistics and make predictions.
Some sales managers reach their potential in this field with just a high school diploma. However, a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Marketing, Finance, or another field will open more job opportunities. Your entry-level jobs in this field are usually in direct sales. As you gain work experience, you’ll advance to the managerial level.
Airline and Commercial Pilot
Average Salary: $130,440
Airline and commercial pilots fly aircraft that transport passengers and cargo. These aircraft include passenger planes, private jets, helicopters, and crop dusters. They may also navigate flights as part of a team or make sure that the aircraft is in good condition before flights.
You need a bachelor’s degree before getting started as a commercial pilot. There’s no strict requirement on which degree you need. Fields like aviation, aerospace engineering, and others will give you a solid foundation. After you earn a degree, you need to earn a pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Average Salary: $125,130
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Human Resource Manager
Average Salary: $121,220
Human resources managers oversee the administrative duties of an organization. They tend to be the only ones working in this role at their organization, so they carry many responsibilities. These include training new employees, supporting the recruitment process, and consulting on ethical problems that may emerge from employee interactions.
You can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources to get your first job. If you want to advance in the field, you may have to get a master’s degree.
Computer Hardware Engineer
Average Salary: $119,560
Computer hardware engineers create new computer parts and systems. They’re responsible for researching the market, designing and developing hardware, and testing the hardware to ensure it works as intended. As technology continues to progress, these engineers may update old designs to stay current with new technology.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering is the first step to working in this field. Other bachelor’s degrees that can give you a firm footing as an entry-level engineer include electrical engineering and computer science. You can get a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering if you want to reach the highest levels in the field.
Aerospace Engineer
Average Salary: $118,610
Aerospace engineers design anything that flies or goes into space. Their work can include working on aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. After designing a new project, they test prototypes to ensure the designs are viable and efficient.
To break into this field, you’ll need a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering. This degree will cover all of the mechanical and aerodynamic knowledge you need to do the job. Some colleges even have five-year programs where you can simultaneously work toward earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager
Average Salary: $118,430
Public relations managers help develop a company’s identity and control its public image through advertising and publications. Fundraising managers create fundraising strategies, meet with donors on a personal basis, and apply for grants. Both roles can potentially also guide a staff of various sizes to complete all goals.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, English, Communications, or Journalism, you can land an entry-level job. To get to a management job, you’ll need lots of work experience and maybe a master’s degree. As you work in the field, you’ll forge connections with media and donors as appropriate, which will help you effectively perform your job.
Computer Network Architect
Average Salary: $116,780
Computer network architects build local data networks for organizations. These networks can be as simple as connecting two computers or as complicated as building a massive cloud computing structure for a corporation. They need to know how to operate the hardware and software in the field and work with others to create solutions.
You will need a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or another tech field to get started. You’ll get trusted with more responsibilities as you gain work experience. Some organizations prefer architects with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus on information systems.
Nuclear Engineer
Average Salary: $116,140
Nuclear engineers are responsible for researching and developing methods to produce nuclear energy. They design new equipment, monitor facilities, and even respond to emergencies. As their equipment operates, they’ll probe to ensure that it’s operating as efficiently as possible and work to make it more efficient.
You’ll land your first entry-level job with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering or another engineering field. You can advance in the field with a combination of experience and advanced degrees. Much like aerospace engineering, there are also degree programs that allow you to work simultaneously towards a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
Training and Development Manager
Average Salary: $115,640
These managers create skills enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. They can analyze an organization’s workforce to see which training they need, teach training skills to supervisors, and evaluate the efficacy of training programs. To work effectively, they need familiarity with an organization’s goals and budget.
You can get started with a bachelor’s degree in plenty of fields, but a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Education is ideal. If you’re interested, you can go for a master’s degree and advance your knowledge.
Should You Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree?
Yes, you should pursue a bachelor’s degree if you want to have a high-paying and successful career. The jobs listed above are lucrative and have a low educational barrier for entry. Though you may have to go back to school in some fields, work experience may be enough to get you to the top.
If you decide that you want to go back to school, plenty of online colleges can fit a master’s degree into your schedule. If you’re interested in six-figure earning potential with only four more years of schooling, a bachelor’s degree could be the route for you.