
Highest paying jobs in Birmingham that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Birmingham that require a bachelor's degree
While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, many still believe a bachelor’s degree is essential to landing a high-paying job in the United States. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs that typically require a bachelors in Birmingham-Hoover, AL using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Whether highly technical, scientific, or based in finance or the arts, all the jobs require keeping up to date with the latest developments in culture, commerce, or tech.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor degree in Birmingham-Hoover, AL.
You may also like: Highest paying jobs in Birmingham that require a graduate degree

#50. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $73,910
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)
#49. Emergency management directors
- Annual mean salary: $75,190
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,800
- Employment: 10,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,000)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($123,170)

#48. Editors
- Annual mean salary: $75,370
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,400
- Employment: 88,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($102,850)
--- Trenton, NJ ($93,390)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,910)
#47. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $76,160
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)
#46. Compliance officers
- Annual mean salary: $77,480
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,810
- Employment: 334,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,460)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($96,030)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor
#45. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Annual mean salary: $78,810
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- Employment: 106,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($111,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,020)

#44. Foresters
- Annual mean salary: $78,920
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,710
- Employment: 9,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($96,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($96,220)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($90,320)

#43. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $78,990
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,430
- Employment: 42,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,310)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($146,040)
#42. Chemical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $81,500
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 24,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($173,640)
--- Anchorage, AK ($159,010)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($152,820)

#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $81,720
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)
You may also like: Dogs available for adoption in Birmingham
#40. Credit analysts
- Annual mean salary: $83,150
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,030
- Employment: 68,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($128,950)
--- Danbury, CT ($121,560)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,860)
#39. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $83,210
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)
#38. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Annual mean salary: $84,000
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,240
- Employment: 76,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($116,630)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($109,190)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,710)
#37. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $86,530
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- Employment: 98,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,730)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($127,330)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($118,710)

#36. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $90,440
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
You may also like: Highest-rated steakhouses in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor
#35. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $90,500
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)

#34. Materials engineers
- Annual mean salary: $90,530
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 21,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($135,680)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,720)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($129,400)
#33. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $91,370
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#32. Atmospheric and space scientists
- Annual mean salary: $91,590
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,880
- Employment: 8,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,860)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($118,420)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($114,860)
#31. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $91,660
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Birmingham
#30. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $92,420
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)
#29. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $93,700
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#28. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Annual mean salary: $93,790
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,550
- Employment: 23,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($161,290)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($156,870)
--- Midland, TX ($156,270)

#27. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $95,290
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)

#26. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,450
- Employment: 7,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($152,290)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($150,970)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($149,070)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor
#25. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $97,360
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#24. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $98,920
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
#23. Budget analysts
- Annual mean salary: $101,030
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,240
- Employment: 47,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,670)
--- Iowa City, IA ($108,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,380)
#22. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $103,070
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
#21. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $104,100
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,700
- Employment: 22,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($127,700)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,690)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,770)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Birmingham
#20. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $105,710
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#19. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $106,740
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
#18. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $108,720
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#17. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,760
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
#16. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $120,430
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor
#15. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $120,740
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#14. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $120,900
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)
#13. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $121,460
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)
#12. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $123,660
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#11. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,710
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)
You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor

#10. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $126,200
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
#9. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,060
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#8. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $130,680
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#7. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,820
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#6. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $137,930
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Birmingham, according to Tripadvisor

#5. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $145,440
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
#4. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $149,400
- #343 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#3. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,510
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#2. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $158,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)
#1. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $199,880
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Birmingham metro area