Pressmaster // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Median annual wage: $73,360
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 990 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Lakeland 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 Lakeland, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Lakeland that require a graduate degree
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $75,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 220 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Insurance underwriters
- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 280 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Financial examiners
- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $77,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: 990 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Lakeland
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Operations research analysts
- Median annual wage: $78,450
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 170 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Labor relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
comzeal images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 510 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
guruXOX // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Producers and directors
- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 130 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $81,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 5,840 people (22.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Lakeland
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,410
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $84,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.78
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 120 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $85,560
- Median hourly wage: $41.13
- Total employment: 150 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $86,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.36
- Total employment: 350 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Lakeland
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $86,340
- Median hourly wage: $41.51
- Total employment: 770 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $86,730
- Median hourly wage: $41.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $90,120
- Median hourly wage: $43.33
- Total employment: 1,160 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $90,650
- Median hourly wage: $43.58
- Total employment: Not available
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $90,960
- Median hourly wage: $43.73
- Total employment: 410 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Lakeland
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $91,670
- Median hourly wage: $44.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $92,790
- Median hourly wage: $44.61
- Total employment: 160 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $94,100
- Median hourly wage: $45.24
- Total employment: 5,300 people (20.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $95,880
- Median hourly wage: $46.10
- Total employment: 140 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $96,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Lakeland
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $97,190
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 250 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $97,760
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Total employment: 410 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
THICHA SATAPITANON // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Financial risk specialists
- Median annual wage: $98,470
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $98,960
- Median hourly wage: $47.58
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $99,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.07
- Total employment: 940 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lakeland's 2025 housing market year in review
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $101,380
- Median hourly wage: $48.74
- Total employment: 580 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $101,590
- Median hourly wage: $48.84
- Total employment: 930 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $102,980
- Median hourly wage: $49.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $103,300
- Median hourly wage: $49.66
- Total employment: 200 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $105,120
- Median hourly wage: $50.54
- Total employment: 310 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Lakeland
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $112,810
- Median hourly wage: $54.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $115,600
- Median hourly wage: $55.58
- Total employment: 330 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $115,640
- Median hourly wage: $55.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $115,860
- Median hourly wage: $55.70
- Total employment: 330 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $120,260
- Median hourly wage: $57.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Lakeland this year
dokurose // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $120,600
- Median hourly wage: $57.98
- Total employment: 730 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $121,480
- Median hourly wage: $58.41
- Total employment: 380 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $121,580
- Median hourly wage: $58.45
- Total employment: 1,060 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $123,040
- Median hourly wage: $59.15
- Total employment: 220 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $125,960
- Median hourly wage: $60.56
- Total employment: 130 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Lakeland in the last week
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $130,560
- Median hourly wage: $62.77
- Total employment: 1,040 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $131,620
- Median hourly wage: $63.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $152,990
- Median hourly wage: $73.55
- Total employment: 120 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $156,180
- Median hourly wage: $75.09
- Total employment: 610 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $176,240
- Median hourly wage: $84.73
- Total employment: 480 people (1.82 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-rated cheap eats in Lakeland by diners
