Canva
1 / 50#50. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $100,520
- Median hourly wage: $48.33
- Total employment: 260 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest paying jobs in Denver that require a bachelor's degree
While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, a bachelor's degree remains essential to many high-paying jobs across the United States.
Annual tuition and fees at four-year colleges rose 10 to 14% on average from 2010-11 to 2021-22, National Center for Education Statistics data shows. For many students, this means taking out loans. Federal student loan recipients who earned a bachelor's degree in 2016 borrowed an average of over $45,000 to earn their degree, as measured four years after graduation.
While expensive, bachelor's degrees provide higher earnings potential for U.S. workers. A Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis from 2021 shows that bachelor's degree holders make $277 more weekly than the median for all jobs, and $525 more than those whose highest education level is a high school diploma. What's more, the unemployment rate is lower for bachelor's degree holders at 3.5%, compared to 4.7% for all U.S. workers.
To be sure, not all jobs that require a bachelor's pay well. So, if you're going to get an undergraduate degree, what jobs will pay enough to make it worthwhile?
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Denver that require a bachelor's degree. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree in Denver.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Denver
Canva
2 / 50#49. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $101,730
- Median hourly wage: $48.91
- Total employment: 2,240 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
3 / 50#48. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $101,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.98
- Total employment: 3,110 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $102,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.06
- Total employment: 6,330 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
5 / 50#46. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $103,280
- Median hourly wage: $49.66
- Total employment: 6,430 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Denver
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $103,800
- Median hourly wage: $49.91
- Total employment: 2,510 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
7 / 50#44. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $103,900
- Median hourly wage: $49.95
- Total employment: 140 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $104,790
- Median hourly wage: $50.38
- Total employment: 3,540 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
9 / 50#42. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $104,910
- Median hourly wage: $50.44
- Total employment: 400 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Csomos Attila // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Median annual wage: $105,510
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 1,920 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Denver October 2025
Canva
11 / 50#40. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Median annual wage: $105,600
- Median hourly wage: $50.77
- Total employment: 190 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Labor relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $107,150
- Median hourly wage: $51.52
- Total employment: 500 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $108,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.02
- Total employment: 1,500 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $109,260
- Median hourly wage: $52.53
- Total employment: 730 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
15 / 50#36. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $110,570
- Median hourly wage: $53.16
- Total employment: 6,870 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Denver
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $111,720
- Median hourly wage: $53.71
- Total employment: 1,450 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $111,740
- Median hourly wage: $53.72
- Total employment: 3,650 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $115,790
- Median hourly wage: $55.67
- Total employment: 4,570 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Physical scientists, all other
- Median annual wage: $117,890
- Median hourly wage: $56.68
- Total employment: 420 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $123,500
- Median hourly wage: $59.37
- Total employment: 250 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Denver area by diners
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $123,760
- Median hourly wage: $59.50
- Total employment: 970 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
22 / 50#29. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $125,090
- Median hourly wage: $60.14
- Total employment: 4,920 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $126,730
- Median hourly wage: $60.93
- Total employment: 1,470 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $129,140
- Median hourly wage: $62.09
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $129,450
- Median hourly wage: $62.24
- Total employment: 3,830 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Denver metro area
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $129,500
- Median hourly wage: $62.26
- Total employment: 25,060 people (16.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $130,400
- Median hourly wage: $62.69
- Total employment: 460 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
28 / 50#23. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $131,680
- Median hourly wage: $63.31
- Total employment: 27,020 people (17.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $132,360
- Median hourly wage: $63.64
- Total employment: 3,880 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $135,240
- Median hourly wage: $65.02
- Total employment: 670 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Denver by diners
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $135,890
- Median hourly wage: $65.33
- Total employment: 7,010 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $136,800
- Median hourly wage: $65.77
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
possohh // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Emergency management directors
- Median annual wage: $137,950
- Median hourly wage: $66.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $139,050
- Median hourly wage: $66.85
- Total employment: 490 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
35 / 50#16. Petroleum engineers
- Median annual wage: $139,320
- Median hourly wage: $66.98
- Total employment: 670 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Denver metro area
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $139,560
- Median hourly wage: $67.10
- Total employment: 680 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $142,680
- Median hourly wage: $68.60
- Total employment: 610 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $147,510
- Median hourly wage: $70.92
- Total employment: 570 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $149,850
- Median hourly wage: $72.04
- Total employment: 190 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $154,220
- Median hourly wage: $74.15
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Denver
fizkes // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $159,390
- Median hourly wage: $76.63
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $159,880
- Median hourly wage: $76.87
- Total employment: 8,260 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
43 / 50#8. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $162,670
- Median hourly wage: $78.21
- Total employment: 6,510 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
44 / 50#7. Materials scientists
- Median annual wage: $164,010
- Median hourly wage: $78.85
- Total employment: Not available
fizkes // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $166,140
- Median hourly wage: $79.88
- Total employment: 4,350 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Denver
Canva
46 / 50#5. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $168,760
- Median hourly wage: $81.13
- Total employment: 2,130 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $170,160
- Median hourly wage: $81.81
- Total employment: 7,690 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
48 / 50#3. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $170,690
- Median hourly wage: $82.06
- Total employment: 8,220 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Canva
49 / 50#2. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Median annual wage: $175,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 4,620 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $220,560
- Median hourly wage: $106.04
- Total employment: 300 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best places to live in the Denver metro area
