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1 / 50#50. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $86,830
- Median hourly wage: $41.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Omaha 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 Omaha, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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2 / 50#49. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $88,720
- Median hourly wage: $42.66
- Total employment: 920 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $88,980
- Median hourly wage: $42.78
- Total employment: 780 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $90,580
- Median hourly wage: $43.55
- Total employment: 400 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $92,590
- Median hourly wage: $44.52
- Total employment: 100 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $93,480
- Median hourly wage: $44.94
- Total employment: 750 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $93,970
- Median hourly wage: $45.18
- Total employment: 1,190 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $95,010
- Median hourly wage: $45.68
- Total employment: 480 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Therapists, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,080
- Median hourly wage: $46.19
- Total employment: Not available
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10 / 50#41. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,500
- Median hourly wage: $46.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $97,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.72
- Total employment: 1,190 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $98,000
- Median hourly wage: $47.12
- Total employment: 1,680 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $98,650
- Median hourly wage: $47.43
- Total employment: 1,670 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $99,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.66
- Total employment: 110 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Operations research analysts
- Median annual wage: $99,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.68
- Total employment: 220 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $99,890
- Median hourly wage: $48.02
- Total employment: 320 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $100,520
- Median hourly wage: $48.33
- Total employment: 220 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $101,780
- Median hourly wage: $48.93
- Total employment: 770 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $102,210
- Median hourly wage: $49.14
- Total employment: 570 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $102,550
- Median hourly wage: $49.30
- Total employment: 590 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $102,640
- Median hourly wage: $49.34
- Total employment: 170 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,240
- Median hourly wage: $49.64
- Total employment: 420 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,510
- Median hourly wage: $49.76
- Total employment: 1,160 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
possohh // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Emergency management directors
- Median annual wage: $103,710
- Median hourly wage: $49.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $104,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.01
- Total employment: 810 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $104,960
- Median hourly wage: $50.46
- Total employment: 1,330 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $105,510
- Median hourly wage: $50.73
- Total employment: 2,240 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $107,200
- Median hourly wage: $51.54
- Total employment: 250 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Another77 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Petroleum engineers
- Median annual wage: $107,250
- Median hourly wage: $51.56
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $108,040
- Median hourly wage: $51.94
- Total employment: 150 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $109,950
- Median hourly wage: $52.86
- Total employment: 110 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Atmospheric and space scientists
- Median annual wage: $111,200
- Median hourly wage: $53.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $114,990
- Median hourly wage: $55.28
- Total employment: 810 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $115,010
- Median hourly wage: $55.30
- Total employment: 160 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $116,820
- Median hourly wage: $56.16
- Total employment: 4,410 people (8.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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fizkes // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $118,320
- Median hourly wage: $56.88
- Total employment: 1,170 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $121,340
- Median hourly wage: $58.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $123,360
- Median hourly wage: $59.31
- Total employment: 1,290 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#11. Purchasing managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $123,380
- Median hourly wage: $59.32
- Total employment: 250 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Natural sciences managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $123,380
- Median hourly wage: $59.32
- Total employment: 150 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $128,190
- Median hourly wage: $61.63
- Total employment: 110 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $128,340
- Median hourly wage: $61.70
- Total employment: 930 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $128,610
- Median hourly wage: $61.83
- Total employment: 1,660 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $130,650
- Median hourly wage: $62.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $133,290
- Median hourly wage: $64.08
- Total employment: 380 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $135,550
- Median hourly wage: $65.17
- Total employment: 3,270 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $135,750
- Median hourly wage: $65.27
- Total employment: 730 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $137,680
- Median hourly wage: $66.19
- Total employment: 2,550 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $160,630
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $221,120
- Median hourly wage: $106.31
- Total employment: 1,410 people (2.87 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.
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