Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Compliance officers
- Median annual wage: $72,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.94
- Total employment: 130 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Champaign 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 Champaign, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Champaign area by diners
Deemerwha studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Conservation scientists
- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Credit analysts
- Median annual wage: $75,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
comzeal images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $75,370
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 200 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,530
- Median hourly wage: $37.27
- Total employment: 140 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Champaign metro area
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $78,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 90 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Csomos Attila // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Hydrologists
- Median annual wage: $79,190
- Median hourly wage: $38.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.76
- Total employment: 90 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 90 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Champaign
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Art directors
- Median annual wage: $81,550
- Median hourly wage: $39.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $81,920
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 140 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $81,960
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: 3,740 people (35.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $82,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 180 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $82,620
- Median hourly wage: $39.72
- Total employment: 290 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Champaign by diners
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $82,960
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Total employment: 130 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Web developers
- Median annual wage: $83,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $83,940
- Median hourly wage: $40.36
- Total employment: 270 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $86,540
- Median hourly wage: $41.61
- Total employment: 130 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Financial examiners
- Median annual wage: $90,730
- Median hourly wage: $43.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Champaign
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $92,130
- Median hourly wage: $44.29
- Total employment: 90 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $92,240
- Median hourly wage: $44.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $93,420
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 240 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $93,830
- Median hourly wage: $45.11
- Total employment: 2,140 people (20.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 220 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Champaign
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,000
- Median hourly wage: $46.16
- Total employment: 180 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $96,100
- Median hourly wage: $46.20
- Total employment: 260 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Labor relations specialists
- Median annual wage: $99,540
- Median hourly wage: $47.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: $48.19
- Total employment: 220 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $100,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.20
- Total employment: 160 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in Champaign by diners
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $101,030
- Median hourly wage: $48.57
- Total employment: 120 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $101,060
- Median hourly wage: $48.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $101,110
- Median hourly wage: $48.61
- Total employment: 600 people (5.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $102,330
- Median hourly wage: $49.20
- Total employment: 220 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $103,570
- Median hourly wage: $49.79
- Total employment: 150 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Champaign area by diners
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $104,400
- Median hourly wage: $50.19
- Total employment: 200 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $104,860
- Median hourly wage: $50.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $105,230
- Median hourly wage: $50.59
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $106,470
- Median hourly wage: $51.19
- Total employment: 190 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $108,230
- Median hourly wage: $52.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Champaign that require a graduate degree
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $109,330
- Median hourly wage: $52.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $111,860
- Median hourly wage: $53.78
- Total employment: 450 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $117,470
- Median hourly wage: $56.48
- Total employment: 160 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $118,070
- Median hourly wage: $56.76
- Total employment: 310 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $121,770
- Median hourly wage: $58.54
- Total employment: 630 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Champaign
dokurose // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $127,080
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 290 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $129,160
- Median hourly wage: $62.10
- Total employment: 400 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $129,170
- Median hourly wage: $62.10
- Total employment: 110 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $137,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 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 Middle Eastern restaurants in Champaign by diners
