The 10 highest-paying jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree all pay more than $118,000 a year (2024)

After four-plus extra years of school and thousands of dollars (or more) in student loans, college graduates have high hopes for the kind of job and lifestyle they imagine their bachelor's degree will bring.

On average, new grads expect to earn $60,000 in their first job out of college, and while that number may be high — most will earn closer to $50,000 — most will get there in time. Bachelor's degree holders make a median weekly salary of $1,173, or about $60,996 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's far more than what someone with an associate's degree or high school diploma will take home, but about $35,000 less than what a professional degree holder typically earns annually.

But heading back to school to collect additional degrees isn't the only path toward salaries in the $90,000s. Instead, there are dozens of jobs that will reward bachelor's degree recipients with a similarly hefty paycheck. The trick is to know which positions to go after.

To help job seekers best capitalize on their academic achievement, CNBC Make It analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the occupations that pay workers the largest salaries while only requiring a bachelor's degree to be hired.

So if you want to earn well into the six-figures with your undergraduate experience, consider one of these 10 jobs:

Purchasing managers

Supervisor doing paperwork while using laptop in warehouse

Morsa Images | DigitalVision | Getty Images

Median salary: $118,940
Projected job growth through 2026: 5 percent

These workers oversee and coordinate the activities of a company's buyers and purchasing agents or the people responsible for buying products and services for a company to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers, negotiate contracts, and attend meetings and trade shows to learn about new industry trends. In addition, they maintain and review records of items bought, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories, develop their organization's procurement policies and procedures, and train new staff.

Compensation and benefits managers

Hinterhaus Productions | DigitalVision | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $121,010
Projected job growth through 2026: 5 percent

These workers develop and oversee a company's programs for compensating employees. This means they help set the organization's pay and benefits structure, determine competitive wage rates, select and manage outside partners, such as benefits vendors, insurance brokers and investment managers, and ensure that pay and benefit plans comply with federal and state regulations.

Natural sciences managers

Median annual pay: $123,860
Projected job growth through 2026: 10 percent

These managers supervise the work of scientists, such as chemists, physicists and biologists. They direct research and development activities and coordinate all testing, quality control, and production procedures. Natural sciences managers also typically work with executives at a company to set the goals for researchers or developers on staff, create a budget for projects, review staff members' methodology and the accuracy of their research results, and present project proposals, research findings, and the status of projects to clients and top management.

Sales managers

Caiaimage/Tom Merton | Caiaimage | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $124,220
Projected job growth through 2026: 7 percent

Responsible for directing a company's sales teams, sales managers must assign sales territories and set sales goals or quotas, develop training programs for an organizations' sales representatives, resolve customers complaints regarding sales and service, project sales and determine the profitability of products and services, monitor customer preferences, and develop strategies for acquiring new clients. They also frequently work closely with managers from other departments in the organization, such as marketing or research and design.

Financial managers

Monty Rakusen | Cultura | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $127,990
Projected job growth through 2026: 19 percent

These managers look after the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, ensure that legal requirements are met, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization. Because of technological advances that have reduced the amount of time needed to produce financial reports, many financial managers now do more data analysis and advise senior managers on ways to maximize profits.

Marketing managers

Ingolf Hatz | Cultura | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $134,290
Projected job growth through 2026: 10 percent

Understanding the need or demand for the product or services an organization offers is this manager's main job. It is up to them to identify potential markets interested in the company's products and develop pricing strategies that help maximize profits and market share while keeping customers satisfied. They work closely with sales, public relations and product development staff to discuss topics such as budgets and contracts, marketing plans and the selection of advertising media.

Petroleum engineers

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $137,170
Projected job growth through 2026: 15 percent

These engineers develop methods for extracting oil and gas from onshore and offshore underground reserves as well as find new ways to do the same from older wells. They design equipment used to extract the fossil fuels and ensure it is installed and operated correctly, create the plan for how to drill in these oil fields and recover the oil, find ways to inject water, chemicals, gases or steam into an oil reserve to force out more oil or gas, and finally evaluate well production. They work closely with geoscientists and other specialists to understand the rock or other formation containing the deposit.

Architectural and engineering managers

vm | E+ | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $140,760
Projected job growth through 2026: 6 percent

These managers are responsible for developing the overall concept of a new product or for solving the technical problems that prevent the completion of a project within an architectural and engineering company. This means they make detailed plans for the development of new products, lead research and development projects to create new products, processes or designs, review the methods and technical accuracy of their staff's work, and determine the budgets needed for projects. They often work with other managers, including those in finance, production, and marketing, as well as with contractors and equipment and materials suppliers.

Computer and information systems managers

John Fedele | Tetra images | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $142,530
Projected job growth through 2026: 12 percent

These tech workers direct all computer and technology-related activities within an organization. They determine a company's computer needs and recommend the appropriate products to top executives, oversee and plan the installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software and ensure the security of a company's network and electronic documents.

Chief executives

Martin Barraud | OJO Images | Getty Images

Median annual pay: $189,600
Projected job growth through 2026: -4 percent

Also known as chief executive officers, executive directors, managing directors or presidents, these leaders are responsible for the overall direction of a company or organization. They manage the company operations, formulate and implement company policies, oversee an organization's financial and budgetary activities, and ensure profit, revenue and sales goals are met.

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The 10 highest-paying jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree all pay more than $118,000 a year (2024)

FAQs

The 10 highest-paying jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree all pay more than $118,000 a year? ›

The job that Bloomberg is talking about is that of a wind turbine technician. If you're reading this in Europe or elsewhere abroad, you may be wondering what a wind turbine is. If you live in the U.S., particularly in Texas or California, you know exactly what I'm speaking of.

How can I make $100000 a year without a college degree? ›

9 jobs that pay $100K per year without a degree
  1. Information systems manager. ...
  2. Fire chief. ...
  3. Product manager. ...
  4. Senior engagement manager. ...
  5. Radiation therapist. ...
  6. Computer network architect. ...
  7. Senior real estate manager. ...
  8. Technical program manager.
Apr 18, 2024

What is the highest paying bachelor's degree job? ›

Highest paying jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree
  • Engineer. Engineers help plan and design construction projects, including buildings, infrastructure development and machinery. ...
  • Architect. ...
  • Database administrator. ...
  • Computer and information systems analyst. ...
  • Economist. ...
  • Health services manager.
Feb 16, 2023

How to make 100K with a bachelor's degree? ›

Table of Contents
  1. Some bachelor's degree jobs offer a high return.
  2. Construction Managers.
  3. Medical and Health Services Managers.
  4. Art Directors.
  5. Actuaries.
  6. Computer Network Architects.
  7. Medical Dosimetrists.
  8. Human Resources Managers.
Feb 8, 2024

Which bachelor's degree has the highest salary? ›

10 Highest paying bachelor's degrees in India: Check average...
  • Engineering (Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical) ...
  • Medicine (MBBS) ...
  • Chartered Accountancy (CA) ...
  • Law (LLB) ...
  • Management (MBA) ...
  • Architecture. ...
  • Pharmacy. ...
  • Hotel Management.
2 days ago

What is the hottest job in the US pays $80,000? ›

The job that Bloomberg is talking about is that of a wind turbine technician. If you're reading this in Europe or elsewhere abroad, you may be wondering what a wind turbine is. If you live in the U.S., particularly in Texas or California, you know exactly what I'm speaking of.

How to make 7 figures? ›

The most common ways to earn a 7-figure income include starting your own business, investing in real estate, getting involved in the stock market, and pursuing a career in a high-paying field such as medicine, law, or finance.

What is the best paid job in the world? ›

List of Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the World
  • General and Orthopedic Surgeons.
  • Psychiatrists.
  • Data Scientists.
  • Software Engineers.
  • Investment Banker.
  • Petroleum Engineers.
  • Corporate Lawyers.
  • Professional Athletes.

What entry level job pays the most? ›

Here are 10 high-paying entry-level roles, along with salary information from the compensation resource Payscale.
  • Software developer. ...
  • Business analyst, IT. ...
  • Investment associate. ...
  • Desktop support engineer. ...
  • HR associate. ...
  • Executive assistant. ...
  • Marketing associate. ...
  • Sales development representative.

What job makes the most money? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA (Inc Salaries)
  1. Chief Executive Officer. The company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for guiding the company towards success and growth. ...
  2. Physician/ Doctor. ...
  3. Psychiatrist. ...
  4. Airline Pilot. ...
  5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. ...
  6. Orthodontist. ...
  7. Lawyer. ...
  8. Architectural and Engineering Manager.

What's the fastest degree that makes the most money? ›

All salary data is from the BLS.
  • #1 Business Administration. A business administration degree is one of the most versatile and flexible degrees you can earn. ...
  • #2 Communications. ...
  • #3 Finance. ...
  • #4 Healthcare Administration. ...
  • #5 Human Resources. ...
  • #6 Information Technology. ...
  • #7 Management. ...
  • #8 Management Information Systems.
Aug 7, 2024

What major pays the most? ›

No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least.

Can you make six figures with a bachelor's degree? ›

Yes, there are numerous fields where you can earn $100,000 or more with just a bachelor's degree, though it may take some time to earn this amount. Even the most high-paying fields don't usually pay starting salaries in the six figures.

What is the easiest job to make 100K a year? ›

Easiest Jobs That Pay $100K
  • Information Technology Manager. Average Annual Salary: $119,500. ...
  • Risk Manager. Average Annual Salary: $116,000. ...
  • Hacker. Average Annual Salary: $86,000. ...
  • Geophysicist. Average Annual Salary: $105,000. ...
  • Equity Research Associate. ...
  • Dentist. ...
  • Investment Banking Associate. ...
  • Optometrist.
Aug 1, 2023

What is the most money you can make without a college degree? ›

What Is the Highest-Paying Job Without a Degree? The highest-paying job without a degree is that of a commercial pilot, which was found to have a median annual wage of $121,430.

How to make $80,000 a year without a degree? ›

Some of the best jobs without a degree that pay $80K are tech roles such as software developer, database administrator, and information security analyst. These are great options because you can gain the necessary skills through a bootcamp or independent study over a short period of time.

How to make $100,000 per year in passive income? ›

Ways to Make $100,000 Per Year in Passive Income
  1. Invest in Real Estate. Rental properties generate income through tenants who pay rent each month to live in a property you own. ...
  2. CD Laddering. ...
  3. Dividend Stocks. ...
  4. Fixed-Income Securities. ...
  5. Start a Side Hustle.
Jul 28, 2023

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