Highest paying jobs in Raleigh that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Raleigh 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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC.
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#50. Chemists
- Annual mean salary: $81,420
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
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)
#49. Accountants and auditors
- Annual mean salary: $81,940
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,450
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)
#48. Technical writers
- Annual mean salary: $85,910
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#47. Credit analysts
- Annual mean salary: $86,050
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)

#46. Loan officers
- Annual mean salary: $88,430
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750
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)
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#45. Surveyors
- Annual mean salary: $89,260
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,880
- Employment: 46,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,360)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,740)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($103,260)
#44. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)

#43. Financial examiners
- Annual mean salary: $90,130
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#42. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $90,800
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
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)
#41. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $91,550
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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)
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#40. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $91,600
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
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)
#39. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $92,460
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,020
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. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $92,570
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#37. Atmospheric and space scientists
- Annual mean salary: $93,330
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#36. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $93,490
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,870
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)
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#35. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $93,840
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,700
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)
#34. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $94,630
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
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)
#33. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $97,100
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#32. Nuclear engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,800
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#31. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $100,160
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
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)
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#30. Commercial and industrial designers
- Annual mean salary: $100,400
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#29. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $101,010
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,130
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)
#28. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $106,340
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470
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)

#27. Actuaries
- Annual mean salary: $106,470
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#26. Chemical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $106,690
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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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#25. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $107,240
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#24. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $107,760
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)

#23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $108,900
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,030
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)
#22. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $109,030
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,870
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)

#21. Soil and plant scientists
- Annual mean salary: $109,320
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
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)
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#20. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $112,710
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)
#19. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $115,190
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
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)
#18. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $117,660
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,540
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)

#17. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $121,000
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)

#16. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $121,400
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,110
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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#15. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $122,550
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
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)

#14. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420
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. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $126,970
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,780
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. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $127,560
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#11. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,580
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $129,680
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)

#9. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $131,140
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)

#8. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $136,990
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850
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: $145,910
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
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. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,100
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
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)
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#5. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,550
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,970
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)

#4. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $154,130
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,310
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. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,220
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,580
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. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $160,470
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
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)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $256,640
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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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