Highest paying jobs in Rockford that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Rockford 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 Rockford, IL 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 Rockford, IL.
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#50. Producers and directors
- Annual mean salary: $57,260
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 138,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,610)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,810)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,990)
#49. Logisticians
- Annual mean salary: $59,330
- #388 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- Employment: 189,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($115,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,740)
--- Kokomo, IN ($101,310)
#48. Compliance officers
- Annual mean salary: $59,390
- #410 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#47. Fundraisers
- Annual mean salary: $59,580
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,870
- Employment: 82,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,070)
--- Salinas, CA ($83,760)

#46. Human resources specialists
- Annual mean salary: $59,610
- #324 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,720
- Employment: 740,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($95,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($91,400)
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#45. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $60,490
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)
#44. Public relations specialists
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,250
- Employment: 242,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,920)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($102,720)
--- Midland, MI ($90,820)
#43. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Annual mean salary: $60,730
- #199 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 87,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,980)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($96,830)

#42. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $60,790
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#41. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $60,980
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)
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#40. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $61,230
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,620
- Employment: 66,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,490)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($97,270)

#39. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $61,980
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)
#38. Chemists
- Annual mean salary: $62,590
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,130
- Employment: 80,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,290)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($115,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($108,330)

#37. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $62,770
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)

#36. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $63,630
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)
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#35. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $63,780
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,450
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#34. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $65,790
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)
#33. Social and community service managers
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- #318 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,790
- Employment: 156,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,530)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,240)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($98,200)

#32. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)
#31. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $68,720
- #370 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
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#30. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $70,120
- #327 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#29. Technical writers
- Annual mean salary: $70,410
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,470
- Employment: 47,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($114,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($100,080)

#28. Cost estimators
- Annual mean salary: $70,810
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,740
- Employment: 208,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($104,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,550)
#27. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $72,830
- #205 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,710
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- Employment: 3,047,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($155,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($151,640)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($146,360)
#26. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $78,210
- #256 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
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#25. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#24. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $83,610
- #310 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#23. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $85,000
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
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)

#22. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $86,420
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#21. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $89,330
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
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)
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#20. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $90,810
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#19. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- #355 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)
#18. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $92,300
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#17. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $94,460
- #265 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#16. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
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#15. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $96,760
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#14. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $99,010
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#13. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $101,880
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,920
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)

#12. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $104,540
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#11. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,190
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
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#10. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $110,710
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,620
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)

#8. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $112,810
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 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)
#7. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $113,490
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#6. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $114,740
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
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#5. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $117,990
- #357 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)

#4. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- #323 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
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)

#3. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $124,060
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
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)
#2. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,250
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $221,700
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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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