Highest paying jobs in Des Moines that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Des Moines 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
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#50. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $75,890
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,660
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. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Annual mean salary: $75,940
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#48. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $77,010
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,940
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)

#47. Animal scientists
- Annual mean salary: $77,920
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,390
- Employment: 2,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($98,830)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($95,360)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($81,970)
#46. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Annual mean salary: $78,160
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
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#45. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $80,050
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
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)
#44. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $80,410
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)
#43. Budget analysts
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#42. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $81,980
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)

#41. Labor relations specialists
- Annual mean salary: $82,150
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,070
- Employment: 63,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($104,620)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($98,470)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($97,520)
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#40. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $85,090
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#39. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $86,750
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#38. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $87,350
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
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)
#37. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $87,450
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
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)

#36. Food scientists and technologists
- Annual mean salary: $87,760
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
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#35. Financial examiners
- Annual mean salary: $87,870
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
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)

#34. Soil and plant scientists
- Annual mean salary: $88,000
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,290
- Employment: 15,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($111,450)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($109,490)
--- Raleigh, NC ($109,320)
#33. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $89,020
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#32. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,780
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)
#31. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $91,210
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
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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#30. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $91,490
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
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)
#29. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,310
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#28. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $92,340
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#27. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $92,780
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,430
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. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $93,860
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,760
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)
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#25. Commercial and industrial designers
- Annual mean salary: $94,650
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,680
- Employment: 27,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($132,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,370)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($108,760)
#24. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $96,380
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#23. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $97,370
- #230 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 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)

#22. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $98,800
- #373 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,240
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)

#21. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $99,640
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,530
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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#20. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $101,310
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,180
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)

#19. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $102,080
- #371 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 hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $103,770
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#17. Credit analysts
- Annual mean salary: $105,740
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)

#16. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $107,850
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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)
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#15. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,700
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#14. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $109,730
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
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. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $110,090
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)

#12. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $110,570
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#11. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,530
- #59 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)
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#10. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $116,780
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
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)

#9. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $117,230
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#8. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,320
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)

#7. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,450
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910
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. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,880
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
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. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $135,080
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
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)
#4. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $135,990
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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: $139,270
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600
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. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $140,530
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,800
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)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $218,280
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
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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