Highest-paying jobs in St. Louis 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 St. Louis, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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1 / 50

#50. Financial and investment analysts

- Median annual wage: $93,080
- Median hourly wage: $44.75
- Total employment: 2,470 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Project management specialists

- Median annual wage: $93,760
- Median hourly wage: $45.08
- Total employment: 9,910 people (7.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

luchschenF // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Chemists

- Median annual wage: $95,060
- Median hourly wage: $45.70
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Training and development managers

- Median annual wage: $95,260
- Median hourly wage: $45.80
- Total employment: 230 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Database administrators

- Median annual wage: $95,400
- Median hourly wage: $45.87
- Total employment: 710 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Sales engineers

- Median annual wage: $95,450
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 260 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Industrial engineers

- Median annual wage: $95,610
- Median hourly wage: $45.97
- Total employment: 2,730 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Labor relations specialists

- Median annual wage: $97,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.80
- Total employment: 710 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

THICHA SATAPITANON // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Financial risk specialists

- Median annual wage: $97,410
- Median hourly wage: $46.83
- Total employment: 510 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Compensation and benefits managers

- Median annual wage: $97,530
- Median hourly wage: $46.89
- Total employment: 180 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Architects, except landscape and naval

- Median annual wage: $97,690
- Median hourly wage: $46.97
- Total employment: 920 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#38. Civil engineers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $97,930
- Median hourly wage: $47.08
- Total employment: 2,820 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer programmers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $97,930
- Median hourly wage: $47.08
- Total employment: 800 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer systems analysts

- Median annual wage: $98,330
- Median hourly wage: $47.27
- Total employment: 3,960 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Art directors

- Median annual wage: $98,660
- Median hourly wage: $47.44
- Total employment: 420 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Computer occupations, all other

- Median annual wage: $99,100
- Median hourly wage: $47.64
- Total employment: 6,040 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Csomos Attila // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers

- Median annual wage: $99,950
- Median hourly wage: $48.06
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Facilities managers

- Median annual wage: $100,330
- Median hourly wage: $48.24
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Halfpoint // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Materials engineers

- Median annual wage: $100,480
- Median hourly wage: $48.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Engineers, all other

- Median annual wage: $100,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.39
- Total employment: 570 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Environmental engineers

- Median annual wage: $101,580
- Median hourly wage: $48.84
- Total employment: 220 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

science photo // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Food scientists and technologists

- Median annual wage: $102,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 360 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Management analysts

- Median annual wage: $102,540
- Median hourly wage: $49.30
- Total employment: 6,250 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Construction managers

- Median annual wage: $104,310
- Median hourly wage: $50.15
- Total employment: 2,670 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Medical and health services managers

- Median annual wage: $104,410
- Median hourly wage: $50.20
- Total employment: 4,330 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

creativemarc // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Administrative services managers

- Median annual wage: $104,920
- Median hourly wage: $50.44
- Total employment: 2,090 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Information security analysts

- Median annual wage: $106,250
- Median hourly wage: $51.08
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Public relations managers

- Median annual wage: $107,440
- Median hourly wage: $51.65
- Total employment: 450 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Industrial production managers

- Median annual wage: $109,940
- Median hourly wage: $52.86
- Total employment: 2,120 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Electrical engineers

- Median annual wage: $113,310
- Median hourly wage: $54.47
- Total employment: 1,730 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

dokurose // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sales managers

- Median annual wage: $113,530
- Median hourly wage: $54.58
- Total employment: 4,260 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Atmospheric and space scientists

- Median annual wage: $115,750
- Median hourly wage: $55.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

aappp // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Aerospace engineers

- Median annual wage: $116,600
- Median hourly wage: $56.06
- Total employment: 650 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SeventyFour // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Computer hardware engineers

- Median annual wage: $116,880
- Median hourly wage: $56.19
- Total employment: 320 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Software developers

- Median annual wage: $120,490
- Median hourly wage: $57.93
- Total employment: 9,360 people (6.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Computer network architects

- Median annual wage: $122,130
- Median hourly wage: $58.72
- Total employment: 1,310 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Database architects

- Median annual wage: $122,290
- Median hourly wage: $58.79
- Total employment: 910 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Electronics engineers, except computer

- Median annual wage: $125,560
- Median hourly wage: $60.37
- Total employment: 460 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Marketing managers

- Median annual wage: $125,930
- Median hourly wage: $60.54
- Total employment: 3,030 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SpeedKingz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $127,070
- Median hourly wage: $61.09
- Total employment: 4,530 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Chemical engineers

- Median annual wage: $127,100
- Median hourly wage: $61.11
- Total employment: 180 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PanuShot // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Advertising and promotions managers

- Median annual wage: $127,670
- Median hourly wage: $61.38
- Total employment: Not available

dokurose // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Actuaries

- Median annual wage: $127,800
- Median hourly wage: $61.44
- Total employment: 170 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Human resources managers

- Median annual wage: $128,520
- Median hourly wage: $61.79
- Total employment: 2,050 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Purchasing managers

- Median annual wage: $134,220
- Median hourly wage: $64.53
- Total employment: 670 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kanghophoto // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Financial managers

- Median annual wage: $140,240
- Median hourly wage: $67.42
- Total employment: 6,890 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Computer and information systems managers

- Median annual wage: $154,760
- Median hourly wage: $74.40
- Total employment: 4,680 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Architectural and engineering managers

- Median annual wage: $155,100
- Median hourly wage: $74.57
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VE.Studio // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Natural sciences managers

- Median annual wage: $161,450
- Median hourly wage: $77.62
- Total employment: 520 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Chief executives

- Median annual wage: $172,600
- Median hourly wage: $82.98
- Total employment: 1,840 people (1.37 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.

Highest-paying jobs in St. Louis that require a bachelor's degree

#50. Financial and investment analysts

#49. Project management specialists

#48. Chemists

#47. Training and development managers

#46. Database administrators

#45. Sales engineers

#44. Industrial engineers

#43. Labor relations specialists

#42. Financial risk specialists

#41. Compensation and benefits managers

#40. Architects, except landscape and naval

#38. Civil engineers (tie)

#38. Computer programmers (tie)

#37. Computer systems analysts

#36. Art directors

#35. Computer occupations, all other

#34. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers

#33. Facilities managers

#32. Materials engineers

#31. Engineers, all other

#30. Environmental engineers

#29. Food scientists and technologists

#28. Management analysts

#27. Construction managers

#26. Medical and health services managers

#25. Administrative services managers

#24. Information security analysts

#23. Public relations managers

#22. Industrial production managers

#21. Electrical engineers

#20. Sales managers

#19. Atmospheric and space scientists

#18. Aerospace engineers

#17. Computer hardware engineers

#16. Software developers

#15. Computer network architects

#14. Database architects

#13. Electronics engineers, except computer

#12. Marketing managers

#11. Managers, all other

#10. Chemical engineers

#9. Advertising and promotions managers

#8. Actuaries

#7. Human resources managers

#6. Purchasing managers

#5. Financial managers

#4. Computer and information systems managers

#3. Architectural and engineering managers

#2. Natural sciences managers

#1. Chief executives

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