Highest paying jobs in Chicago that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Chicago 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI.
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#50. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $91,860
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 426,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($154,880)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,290)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($121,180)

#49. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $92,230
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,630
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)
#48. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $93,940
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,140
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)
#47. Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
- Annual mean salary: $94,210
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,200
- Employment: 52,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($102,470)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,710)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,850)
#46. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $95,540
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,740
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)
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#45. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $95,640
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,050
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)
#44. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Annual mean salary: $95,820
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010
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)
#43. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $95,890
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,290
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)
#42. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $96,140
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#41. Chemical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $96,440
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
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#40. Food scientists and technologists
- Annual mean salary: $96,850
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,150
- Employment: 13,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($138,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,970)
--- Wichita, KS ($102,100)
#39. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $97,290
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,020
- Employment: 17,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($151,560)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($122,950)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($120,340)
#38. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,370
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,230
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)
#37. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,390
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
#36. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $101,290
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,800
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)
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#35. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $104,260
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#34. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $105,130
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,230
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)

#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $106,730
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,790
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)

#32. Financial examiners
- Annual mean salary: $107,690
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,180
- Employment: 60,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($128,280)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($125,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,070)

#31. Materials scientists
- Annual mean salary: $108,690
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,790
- Employment: 6,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($142,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,480)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($133,380)
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#30. Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
- Annual mean salary: $109,570
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,410
- Employment: 12,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($132,660)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,780)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($131,330)
#29. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $110,480
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,580
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)

#28. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $110,690
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,230
- Employment: 73,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($161,580)
#27. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,720
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,230
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)

#26. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $114,000
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 38,110
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)
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#25. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $114,260
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,390
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)
#24. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,680
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

#23. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $115,350
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40,340
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)

#22. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $116,110
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,590
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,300
- Employment: 23,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($245,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,550)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($144,320)

#21. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $118,340
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,640
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)
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#20. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $120,580
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,060
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)
#19. Nuclear engineers
- Annual mean salary: $123,550
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,760
- Employment: 12,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($153,790)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($143,500)
--- Niles-Benton Harbor, MI ($141,090)

#18. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,200
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,440
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)

#17. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $125,940
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130
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)
#16. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,990
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 104,500
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)
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#15. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $127,660
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,970
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)

#14. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $130,450
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#13. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,900
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380
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)

#12. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $134,890
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,590
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)

#11. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $135,270
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,820
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)
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#10. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $140,000
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,930
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)
#9. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $141,340
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
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. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $142,720
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,600
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)

#7. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $146,560
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 23,660
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)

#6. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,950
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 32,150
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)
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#5. Petroleum engineers
- Annual mean salary: $150,070
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)
#4. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $153,430
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,730
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)
#3. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $157,220
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,130
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)

#2. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $195,020
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $250,860
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,860
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)
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