Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
- Median annual wage: $76,060
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville that require a bachelor's degree
Between rising tuition and a tight job market, getting a bachelor's degree is an increasingly daunting prospect these days. Per a May 2024 Pew Research Center survey, just 1 in 4 adults believe a college degree is necessary to secure a high-paying job.
Many second-guess the value of college because of the cost. For the 2024-2025 school year, annual tuition and fees averaged more than $11,600 at in-state public universities, a nearly 3% increase from the previous year. Tuition at private schools increased by roughly 4% in the same time period.
Besides financial concerns, there are career opportunities to consider. Though the job market in the United States shifts from month to month, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 reached 5.8% in March 2025, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For context, that's more than double the unemployment rate of all college graduates.
These factors all contribute to the belief that college may not be the answer for everyone. However, research shows that a bachelor's degree still pays off in the long run. As of 2024, the most recent year with available data, the $60,000 median salary for a recent college graduate is $20,000 more than the median earnings for someone with only a high school diploma.
Although high school grads can make a decent salary without taking on student loan debt, lifetime earnings range between $630,000 and $900,000 more for those with a bachelor's degree. Graduate degree holders, meanwhile, may earn $1.1 million to $1.5 million more than high school graduates.
With this in mind, many different jobs make a degree worth the cost of tuition. Stacker ranked the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree in Fayetteville, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Fayetteville
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Accountants and auditors
- Median annual wage: $76,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 1,940 people (7.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $76,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Total employment: 250 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $77,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 120 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
comzeal images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $77,840
- Median hourly wage: $37.42
- Total employment: 550 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Top 10 Cities to Rent an Apartment: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $77,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 230 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Logisticians
- Median annual wage: $78,250
- Median hourly wage: $37.62
- Total employment: 890 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $78,330
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 270 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Compliance officers
- Median annual wage: $79,230
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: 860 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,000 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville that require a bachelor's degree
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Operations research analysts
- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Median annual wage: $80,680
- Median hourly wage: $38.79
- Total employment: 2,660 people (9.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Financial examiners
- Median annual wage: $81,620
- Median hourly wage: $39.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $82,170
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 4,400 people (16.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Public relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $83,040
- Median hourly wage: $39.92
- Total employment: 370 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Fayetteville by diners
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $83,280
- Median hourly wage: $40.04
- Total employment: 550 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $83,300
- Median hourly wage: $40.05
- Total employment: 2,480 people (9.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $83,370
- Median hourly wage: $40.08
- Total employment: 330 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
THICHA SATAPITANON // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Financial risk specialists
- Median annual wage: $84,990
- Median hourly wage: $40.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Fayetteville metro area
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $89,320
- Median hourly wage: $42.94
- Total employment: 370 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $89,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.00
- Total employment: 1,190 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $91,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $95,980
- Median hourly wage: $46.15
- Total employment: 910 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $96,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.33
- Total employment: 560 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville that require a bachelor's degree
science photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Food scientists and technologists
- Median annual wage: $97,500
- Median hourly wage: $46.88
- Total employment: Not available
GLRL // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Median annual wage: $99,200
- Median hourly wage: $47.69
- Total employment: 2,090 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Social workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $99,220
- Median hourly wage: $47.70
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $100,000
- Median hourly wage: $48.08
- Total employment: 450 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $101,000
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 190 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Fayetteville in the last week
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $101,370
- Median hourly wage: $48.74
- Total employment: 170 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $101,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.97
- Total employment: 1,280 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $102,030
- Median hourly wage: $49.05
- Total employment: 2,010 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $107,620
- Median hourly wage: $51.74
- Total employment: 250 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $108,800
- Median hourly wage: $52.31
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Fayetteville
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $112,530
- Median hourly wage: $54.10
- Total employment: 440 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $119,610
- Median hourly wage: $57.50
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $128,610
- Median hourly wage: $61.83
- Total employment: 400 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $130,820
- Median hourly wage: $62.90
- Total employment: 710 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $138,490
- Median hourly wage: $66.58
- Total employment: 1,530 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Fayetteville area by visitors
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $147,830
- Median hourly wage: $71.07
- Total employment: 330 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $153,130
- Median hourly wage: $73.62
- Total employment: 740 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $162,920
- Median hourly wage: $78.33
- Total employment: 430 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $166,240
- Median hourly wage: $79.92
- Total employment: 740 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $167,210
- Median hourly wage: $80.39
- Total employment: 1,060 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Fayetteville in the last week
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $169,720
- Median hourly wage: $81.60
- Total employment: 320 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $182,090
- Median hourly wage: $87.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $183,590
- Median hourly wage: $88.26
- Total employment: 150 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $211,880
- Median hourly wage: $101.86
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Animal scientists
- Median annual wage: $218,610
- Median hourly wage: $105.10
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Top 25 songs in Fayetteville on Shazam in the past week
