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1 / 50#50. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $66,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 100 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Merced 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 Merced, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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2 / 50#49. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Median annual wage: $69,090
- Median hourly wage: $33.22
- Total employment: 130 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,820
- Median hourly wage: $34.53
- Total employment: 80 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mongta Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Cost estimators
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 80 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $72,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Human resources specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 290 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
boonchoke // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Business operations specialists, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 310 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Social and community service managers
- Median annual wage: $76,120
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 120 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
AlesiaKan // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Health education specialists
- Median annual wage: $77,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
science photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Food scientists and technologists
- Median annual wage: $77,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $77,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.31
- Total employment: 260 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Accountants and auditors
- Median annual wage: $78,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 340 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Compliance officers
- Median annual wage: $80,650
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 150 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $82,030
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 80 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $82,250
- Median hourly wage: $39.55
- Total employment: 120 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Median annual wage: $82,260
- Median hourly wage: $39.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Logisticians
- Median annual wage: $82,820
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $85,310
- Median hourly wage: $41.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $88,020
- Median hourly wage: $42.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $88,250
- Median hourly wage: $42.43
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $90,400
- Median hourly wage: $43.46
- Total employment: 270 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
industryviews // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Median annual wage: $94,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Median annual wage: $95,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $95,490
- Median hourly wage: $45.91
- Total employment: 190 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ermolaev Alexander // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Special education teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $97,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,190 people (15.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
B Brown // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $97,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 930 people (11.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $97,590
- Median hourly wage: $46.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Median annual wage: $97,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $98,520
- Median hourly wage: $47.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $98,990
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,010 people (12.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $99,600
- Median hourly wage: $47.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Teachers and instructors, all other
- Median annual wage: $100,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $105,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $105,870
- Median hourly wage: $50.90
- Total employment: 230 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Iam_Anupong // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Median annual wage: $106,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Social scientists and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $108,410
- Median hourly wage: $52.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $114,550
- Median hourly wage: $55.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $115,140
- Median hourly wage: $55.36
- Total employment: 110 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $120,200
- Median hourly wage: $57.79
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $121,340
- Median hourly wage: $58.34
- Total employment: 160 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Education administrators, all other
- Median annual wage: $124,030
- Median hourly wage: $59.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $125,170
- Median hourly wage: $60.18
- Total employment: 130 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $126,880
- Median hourly wage: $61.00
- Total employment: 930 people (11.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $129,110
- Median hourly wage: $62.07
- Total employment: 210 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $133,370
- Median hourly wage: $64.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $136,130
- Median hourly wage: $65.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $156,430
- Median hourly wage: $75.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $158,700
- Median hourly wage: $76.30
- Total employment: 100 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $197,530
- Median hourly wage: $94.97
- Total employment: 100 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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: Highest-paying jobs in Merced that require a bachelor's degree
