Highest-Paying Bachelors Degree Jobs and high-demand job typically means that either there are more opportunities than qualified candidates to fill them, or that there will be more jobs available over the next several years. These types of jobs tend to have several benefits, including more competitive salaries, increased opportunities for advancement, and in some instances, even greater job security.
15 Highest-Paying Bachelors Degree Jobs
We’ve compiled a list of 14 jobs that span majors and tend to pay above-average salaries. It’s worth noting, however, that entry-level jobs all have different requirements. The jobs listed below require a bachelor’s degree and little to no experience, according to BLS, though you may find that different companies have different expectations when it comes to minimum experience. The type of salary you can earn for each of the jobs listed below, which we’ve collected from both BLS and Glassdoor, will also likely depend on your experience, the seniority of the job title, and where you live.
1. Translator
The increasingly global nature of business requires working with companies, clients, and customers in different languages. Translators work in numerous industries, communicating information and ideas from one language to another. As such, they typically need to be fluent in at least two languages.
- Typical majors: Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic
- Median annual salary: $52,330
- Job outlook: 24 percent
2. Human resources specialist
Companies require talent in order to be successful, and human resources teams identify new talent and ensure their continued success. Human resource specialists may recruit talent, onboard and situate new hires in their roles, or oversee compensation packages. They often need to understand aspects of human behavior and effective communication.
- Typical majors: Human resources management, psychology, sociology, communication studies
- Median annual salary: $63,490
- Job outlook: 10 percent
3. Actuary
Businesses need to understand risk in order to evaluate and make the best decisions. Actuaries typically work for insurance companies, applying their knowledge of mathematics, statistics, and finance to assess risk and provide guidance to businesses so they can minimize it. They need to have strong math skills as well as a keen understanding of business.
- Typical majors: Mathematics, statistics, actuarial science
- Median annual salary: $111,030
- Job outlook: 24 percent
4. UX writer (content designer)
Companies need to have a web presence—and even an app—to connect with customers and stay competitive. UX writers, sometimes called content designers, research users’ needs and think about the best language to help them navigate a website or product. They typically need to be strong researchers and writers, with some knowledge of design.
- Typical majors: English, communication studies
- Average annual salary: $61,392
- Job outlook: 12 percent
5. Graphic designer
Companies require visuals for many different aspects of their business, including their marketing, branding, and products. Graphic designers produce digital and print visuals, such as logos, images, or interfaces. The work requires a combination of creativity and technical design skills.
- Typical majors: Graphic design, programming, marketing, fine arts, art history, creative studies
- Median annual salary: $53,380
- Job outlook: 3 percent
6. Web designer
Web designers also balance creativity with technical know-how when creating engaging web pages. They can work in a number of different industries, and they typically need to know a programming language, such as Python, JavaScript, or CSS, alongside basic design principles.
- Typical majors: Web design and development, computer science, computer programming
- Median annual salary: $77,200
- Job outlook: 13 percent
7. Financial analyst
Financial analysts review data in order to help guide a business’ financial decisions. They often look at a company’s financial information in light of business news and market trends to yield useful insights about expenditures, profits, and more. They may also compile written reports and support budget efforts as well.
- Typical majors: Business, finance, statistics, economics
- Median annual salary: $83,660
- Job outlook: 6 percent
8. Social media manager
Social media helps attract customers, build engagement with a company’s brand, and highlight new products or services. Social media managers often set content strategies, which can include text, visuals, and video. They typically need to have a knack for creativity alongside the job’s technical requirements, such as monitoring engagement and tracking analytics.
- Typical majors: Marketing, communications, English, journalism, audio & video production
- Average annual salary: $49,111
- Job outlook: 10 percent
9. Civil engineer
Civil engineers focus on building and improving infrastructures, such as roads, bridges, railroads, and other such resources. “Civil engineer” can be a large term that describes a few different specialties, and many civil engineer graduates concentrate on an area of civil engineering, such as stormwater management or transportation, based on their interests.
- Typical majors: Civil engineering, environmental engineering, construction engineering
- Median annual salary: $88,570
- Job outlook: 8 percent
10. Software developer
Software developers apply their knowledge of computer science to developing new programs and updating existing ones. The role typically requires knowing a programming language and being aware of basic design elements in order to write code and effectively design and develop useful software tools.
- Typical majors: Software engineering, computer science, information technology (IT)
- Median annual salary: $110,140
- Job outlook: 22 percent
11. Market research analyst
When a company has a product or service it wants to launch, market research analysts spend time understanding the market, competitors, and other elements that will help a company’s offerings succeed. They often need to understand data collection processes as well as data analyses in order to conduct useful research and guide a business’s marketing decisions.
- Typical majors: Marketing, communications, business, psychology, sociology
- Median annual salary: $65,810
- Job outlook: 22 percent
12. Mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineers research, design, and develop mechanical devices and systems, as well as machines and tools. They often have to build and test their designs to ensure proper working order. As with civil engineers, “mechanical engineer” is a large term that can be applied to work in a number of different industries, such as robotics, health care, energy, and defense.
- Typical majors: Mechanical engineering
- Median annual salary: $90,160
- Job outlook: 7 percent
13. Information security analyst
With the vast amount of personal information being traded across network systems, information security analysts play a vital role in making sure a company’s information, as well as its customers’, remains safe from bad actors. They often establish best security practices for a company’s needs, in addition to monitoring information systems, detecting issues, and working quickly to troubleshoot.
- Typical majors: Information technology (IT), computer science, engineering
- Median annual salary: $103,590
- Job outlook: 33 percent
14. Network engineer
Network engineers work directly with a company’s computer network to plan, implement, and monitor its operations. Thanks to the prevalence of network systems, network engineers can apply their skills to a number of different industries. They also typically know a programming language, are familiar with cloud computing, and have experience in network security.
- Typical majors: Information technology (IT), computer science, engineering
- Median annual salary: $84,810
- Job outlook: 5 percent
15. Medical assistant
Medical assistants provide support in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities. They are often the first to interact with a patient, taking their medical history and facilitating a smooth visit, which can include submitting prescriptions to area pharmacies and explaining medications to patients. Medical assistants may also perform basic lab tests, collect lab specimens, and perform a range of duties to help doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.
- Median salary (US): $35,850
- Estimated job growth: 18 percent
- Typical requirements: High school diploma and training or professional certificate
Benefits of working in a high-demand job
While a high-demand job doesn’t always correlate with job security, the two can be closely related, meaning that a job with a good deal of projected growth can offer some amount of security. By 2030, the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company estimates that automation will disrupt 400 million jobs [1]. Over the course of the pandemic, jobs in technology and finance grew while roles in tourism, construction, and retail declined [2].
As automation continues to disrupt jobs and industries, replacing workers, it can be useful to move into a career path or industry that is projected to experience high growth and remain in-demand. Beyond security, other benefits of high-demand jobs include:
- Higher salaries
- Faster advancement
- Less competition for available jobs