Highest paying jobs in Columbus that require a bachelor's degree

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March 1, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Columbus 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 Columbus using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 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 Columbus.

#50. Producers and directors

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,020
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,690
- Employment: 119,490
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($135,160)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,250)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($122,140)
- Job description: Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.

#49. Training and development specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $51,030
- #321 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,440
- Employment: 318,040
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Decatur, AL ($101,590)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,070)
--- Savannah, GA ($94,820)
- Job description: Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

#48. Graphic designers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,370
- Employment: 201,440
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($84,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($80,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($77,800)
- Job description: Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

#47. Dietitians and nutritionists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $54,280
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,150
- Employment: 66,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($95,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($95,060)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($93,640)
- Job description: Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

#46. Health education specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,760
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,120
- Employment: 57,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($99,030)
--- New Haven, CT ($89,360)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($87,090)
- Job description: Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

#45. Compliance officers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,830
- #338 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,620
- Employment: 327,360
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($99,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,030)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($96,850)
- Job description: Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

#44. Human resources specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $55,880
- #303 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Employment: 647,810
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#43. Social and community service managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $56,080
- #337 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,140
- Employment: 155,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($96,530)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,650)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($94,900)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

#42. Public relations specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $56,190
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,940
- Employment: 244,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($104,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,630)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($92,160)
- Job description: Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

#41. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $56,770
- #245 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,970
- Employment: 690,160
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($117,900)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($96,150)
- Job description: Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

#40. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $56,940
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,610
- Employment: 87,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,130)
--- Boulder, CO ($92,780)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,250)
- Job description: Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.

#39. Cost estimators

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $59,620
- #301 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,960
- Employment: 199,360
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,530)
--- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL ($104,270)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($101,020)
- Job description: Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing, construction projects, or services to aid management in bidding on or determining price of product or service. May specialize according to particular service performed or type of product manufactured.

#38. Interpreters and translators

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $59,680
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,140
- Employment: 56,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($90,160)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($82,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($80,780)
- Job description: Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

#37. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $59,790
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,540
- Employment: 440,300
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,380)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($155,340)
--- Missoula, MT ($122,420)
- Job description: Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.

#36. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $61,180
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Employment: 991,000
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

#35. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $62,670
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Employment: 1,364,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

#34. Registered nurses

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $64,420
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Employment: 2,986,500
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

#33. Personal financial advisors

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $68,050
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,490
- Employment: 218,050
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Gainesville, FL ($206,120)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($169,850)
--- Tyler, TX ($169,690)
- Job description: Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

#32. Librarians and media collections specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $68,570
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,560
- Employment: 135,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($88,390)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($85,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($84,230)
- Job description: Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

#31. Logisticians

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $68,680
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- Employment: 184,230
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($116,200)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($112,040)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($110,510)
- Job description: Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

#30. Budget analysts

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $71,070
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,690
- Employment: 49,260
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($104,650)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($101,450)
- Job description: Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

#29. Operations research analysts

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $73,030
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,280
- Employment: 96,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,830)
--- Salinas, CA ($124,950)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($123,370)
- Job description: Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.

#28. Network and computer systems administrators

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $75,050
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,460
- Employment: 339,560
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,260)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($116,840)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($111,790)
- Job description: Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

#27. Occupational health and safety specialists

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,110
- Employment: 95,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($112,250)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($107,790)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($101,190)
- Job description: Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

#26. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $77,100
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,330
- Employment: 23,780
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($123,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,700)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($121,330)
- Job description: Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.

#25. Industrial engineers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $78,970
- #275 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,610
- Employment: 290,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($125,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,710)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,510)
- Job description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

#24. Civil engineers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $80,900
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,440
- Employment: 300,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($125,910)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($121,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,860)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

#23. Construction managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $81,140
- #306 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,260
- Employment: 285,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($161,780)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($154,800)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($153,490)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

#22. Loan officers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $83,860
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,930
- Employment: 308,700
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Eau Claire, WI ($129,900)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($121,100)
--- Tyler, TX ($114,690)
- Job description: Evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans. Advise borrowers on financial status and payment methods. Includes mortgage loan officers and agents, collection analysts, loan servicing officers, loan underwriters, and payday loan officers.

#21. Management analysts

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $84,320
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,580
- Employment: 734,000
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($163,720)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($157,490)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,250)
- Job description: Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

#20. Accountants and auditors

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $86,250
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Employment: 1,274,620
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

#19. Mechanical engineers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $91,390
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Employment: 293,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,190)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($123,700)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.

#18. General and operations managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $91,640
- #325 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Employment: 2,347,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

#17. Medical and health services managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $92,560
- #331 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,800
- Employment: 402,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($174,010)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($171,430)
--- Madera, CA ($168,090)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

#16. Computer network architects

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $93,400
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,230
- Employment: 159,350
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($161,950)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($152,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($148,250)
- Job description: Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

#15. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $94,980
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Employment: 1,476,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

#14. Database administrators and architects

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $96,120
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,090
- Employment: 133,630
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($126,540)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($120,430)
- Job description: Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

#13. Information security analysts

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $96,540
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $107,580
- Employment: 138,000
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($147,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,910)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($130,620)
- Job description: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

#12. Training and development managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $98,270
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,920
- Employment: 38,710
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($178,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,750)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

#11. Purchasing managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $100,940
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $132,660
- Employment: 70,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($181,240)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,300)
--- Morgantown, WV ($167,740)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.

#10. Electronics engineers, except computer

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $105,160
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,320
- Employment: 122,320
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,210)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($134,110)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($131,740)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls.

#9. Sales managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $108,600
- #285 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,580
- Employment: 390,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($207,070)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,700)
--- Trenton, NJ ($186,960)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

#8. Financial managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $109,210
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $151,510
- Employment: 653,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($210,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,310)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

#7. Electrical engineers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $110,260
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,990
- Employment: 185,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,480)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($130,150)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($125,700)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

#6. Human resources managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $112,560
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,580
- Employment: 156,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($194,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,890)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($179,870)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

#5. Industrial production managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $115,780
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $118,190
- Employment: 179,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($171,890)
--- Florence, SC ($167,660)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($155,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

#4. Marketing managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $124,820
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $154,470
- Employment: 270,200
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($213,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($211,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($196,260)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

#3. Architectural and engineering managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $139,460
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,100
- Employment: 195,900
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($226,920)
--- Amarillo, TX ($199,940)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,610)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

#2. Computer and information systems managers

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $146,490
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $161,730
- Employment: 457,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($235,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($212,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($201,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

#1. Chief executives

Columbus, GA-AL
- Annual mean salary: $150,250
- #245 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $197,840
- Employment: 202,360
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($293,000)
--- Midland, TX ($269,360)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($263,770)
- Job description: Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

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