High-Paying Jobs You Can Get With a Bachelor's Degree
Earning a six-figure salary doesn’t always require a graduate degree. Many bachelor’s degree graduates can attain that early on in their careers if they pick the right major. With the right bachelor’s program and choice of major, you can set yourself up for a high-paying, rewarding career without accruing too much debt. In today’s evolving job market, a bachelor’s degree is increasingly important for many careers across a wide range of industries. The types of bachelor’s degree jobs you can get will depend on the field you study and your real-world experience.
The Rising Importance of a Bachelor's Degree
Tuition costs are on the rise, and student loan interest racks up debt faster than most grads can pay off. A bachelor’s degree is increasingly important when looking to start or change careers. "A bachelor’s degree can help you start and grow a career," said Emma DeLanoy, a career advising team lead at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The value of earning a bachelor’s degree stems from more than their popularity or demand among employers. Bachelor's degree holders also experience lower unemployment rates. When you earn a bachelor’s degree, you’ll have a key credential that can help you get started across a wide variety of fields, said SNHU Internship Administrator Larry Shane.
Strategic Major Choices for High-Paying Careers
If you make strategic decisions when choosing your major, you’ll set yourself up for a career that pays off without taking on crushing student debt. Here, we’ll give a brief overview of what each major entails, including common coursework and essential skills. Many of the careers we’ve covered here have above-average projected job growth, strong salaries, and opportunities for advancement. Whether you’re just starting your college journey or thinking about making a career change, make sure you do your research and choose the right program.
Computer Science
Computer science majors typically study the design, development, and implementation of software and hardware systems. Nicholas LeBoeuf '23 decided to earn an on-campus bachelor's in computer science from SNHU after developing an interest in technology. He noted this field of study offered "experience in the real world working as a team, building projects." The program also helped LeBoeuf narrow his focus and decide to become a web developer.
Engineering
Engineering majors apply math, science, and critical thinking to create everything from bridges and rockets to medical devices and computer systems.
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Finance
Finance majors learn how individuals and organizations manage money, assess risk, do financial planning, and make investments. With a bachelor’s degree in finance, you can find entry-level positions in a variety of industries, from banking and financial institutions to finance departments of corporations and even government agencies.
Nursing
Nursing majors are trained to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to a diverse population of patients across a range of healthcare settings. Students learn how to assess patient health, administer medications, develop care plans, and educate patients and families about health management. These programs prepare students to become licensed as registered nurses.
Business Administration/Management
Business administration/management majors learn how organizations operate and how to lead teams and manage resources to achieve strategic objectives. Students develop skills in leadership, marketing, strategic planning, finance, and organizational behavior. A bachelor's degree in business administration provides a strong foundation of business acumen and transferable skills like communication and collaboration, and it can help you prepare for a variety of jobs within the business world.
Construction Management
Construction management majors learn how to plan, coordinate, and oversee construction projects from start to finish. Coursework includes project management, budgeting, safety regulations, team leadership, and resource allocation.
Economics
Economics majors study how societies allocate limited resources by analyzing factors like supply, demand, and market forces. Students learn to apply mathematical models, data analysis, and critical thinking to understand economic behavior and predict outcomes.
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Data Science
Data science majors learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret large datasets to extract insights that solve problems and drive decision-making. Coursework builds skills in statistics, data modeling, machine learning, and data visualization.
Human Resource Management
Human resource management majors focus on strategic workforce planning, employee engagement and retention, and workplace policy implementation. Students study topics like training, compensation, and organizational strategy to learn how to foster a positive workplace culture.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Logistics and supply chain management majors learn how to coordinate and optimize the flow of goods and materials across supply chains. They study inventory management, procurement, transportation, operations strategy, and data analysis to solve complex logistical challenges.
Marketing
Marketing majors focus on understanding consumer behavior, analyzing market trends, and promoting products and services to target audiences. Students learn digital marketing, advertising, branding, market research, and data analytics to create campaigns that build brand loyalty and drive sales. With a bachelor’s degree in marketing, you can gain the skills you need to help companies promote products and services to a variety of audiences and prepare for a number of entry-level and mid-level positions.
Specific Job Roles and Their Requirements
Occupations in these fields typically require only a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions. A bachelor’s degree may be the most common requirement for these high-paying jobs, but it’s not the only path. Many enter these fields with an associate’s degree and experience, certifications, or related degrees. Especially recently, with many companies taking a skills-based approach to hiring.
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Management Positions
Many of the higher-paying roles on our list, such as managers, technically only require a bachelor’s degree for entry. However, they demand significant experience with employers favoring candidates with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other relevant master’s degrees.
Administrative Services Manager
As an administrative services manager, you could supervise a team of clerical and administrative staff and help an organization run smoothly. You could monitor company operations and recommend changes to boost efficiency or ensure that company facilities meet environmental, health and security standards.
Management Analyst
Management analysts or consultants recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency and profitability.
Sales Manager
Sales managers typically hold a bachelor's degree, according to BLS, and work to direct the sales team within a company or organization.
Financial Analyst
As a financial analyst, you could provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions.
Accountant or Auditor
As an accountant or auditor, you could prepare and examine financial records, identify areas of opportunity and risk and provide financial solutions for businesses and individuals.
Marketing Manager
As a marketing manager, you could estimate the demand for products and services, develop pricing structures and create the overall marketing strategy for a business.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts study market conditions to determine how products or services will perform.
Public Relations Specialists
As a public relations specialist you can create and maintain a positive public image for an organization, writing media releases and building awareness of an organization’s work.
Technical Writer
As a technical writer you could prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides and other content to communicate complex and technical information.
High School Teacher
As a high school teacher, you could prepare and teach history lessons and provide key analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills that students will need to earn a college degree or start a career.
Museum Technician
Museum technicians care for and protect objects in museum collections, preparing items for display or storage, creating exhibits and overseeing the record-keeping of items in a museum’s collection.
Computer Systems Analyst
As a computer systems analyst, you could study an organization’s computer systems and create solutions to help improve the business’s operations.
Software Developer
With a job as a software developer, you could develop computer applications that allow individuals and businesses to complete specific tasks or design the systems that run devices and control computer networks.
Medical and Health Services Manager
With a job as a medical and health services manager, you could plan, direct and coordinate medical and health services for a hospital, medical practice or other healthcare facilities.
Medical Records and Health Information Technician
These technicians organize and maintain the accuracy, accessibility and security of health information data.
Police Officer
As a police officer you could work for a town, city or state law enforcement department, responding to emergency calls, patrolling assigned areas and collecting and securing evidence from crime scenes.
Probation Officer
With a job as a probation officer, you could provide social services to assist in the rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.
Social and Human Service Assistants
Social and human services assistants provide client services in a variety of fields including psychology, rehabilitation and social work and connect clients with benefits and community services.
Social and Community Service Manager
Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs that support public well-being in a community.
Human Resources Specialist
As a human resources specialist you could help businesses recruit and retain workers and act as a key bridge between employees and company leadership. Human resources specialists may also guide employees through questions about company policies, mediate employee conflicts and administer benefits.
Psychiatric Technician
A psychiatric technician or aide typically works at residential care facilities caring for people who have a mental illness or developmental disabilities, providing therapeutic care and monitoring patients’ conditions.
Personal Stories and Inspiration
After an injury changed her plans of playing college basketball, Tatiana Toledo '21 came to SNHU and opted to earn a specialized degree align with her interests. "It changed my view on the sports industry forever and allowed me to connect with other people in my classes who loved sports as much as me," Toledo said of her time at SNHU. "I have been homeless, addicted, and hopeless," she said. "I am now housed, employed, and working in the substance abuse treatment field helping other mothers in recovery.
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