wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $97,990
- Median hourly wage: $47.11
- Total employment: 2,020 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Columbus 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 Columbus, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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2 / 50#49. Materials scientists
- Median annual wage: $98,570
- Median hourly wage: $47.39
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Another77 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Petroleum engineers
- Median annual wage: $98,760
- Median hourly wage: $47.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $99,050
- Median hourly wage: $47.62
- Total employment: 3,300 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
5 / 50#45. General and operations managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $99,780
- Median hourly wage: $47.97
- Total employment: 27,930 people (25.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Administrative services managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $99,780
- Median hourly wage: $47.97
- Total employment: 1,710 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $99,900
- Median hourly wage: $48.03
- Total employment: 1,110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $100,480
- Median hourly wage: $48.31
- Total employment: 1,160 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Database administrators
- Median annual wage: $100,550
- Median hourly wage: $48.34
- Total employment: 390 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $100,640
- Median hourly wage: $48.38
- Total employment: 7,250 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $100,700
- Median hourly wage: $48.42
- Total employment: 3,780 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $100,730
- Median hourly wage: $48.43
- Total employment: 3,470 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $101,380
- Median hourly wage: $48.74
- Total employment: 3,000 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $102,110
- Median hourly wage: $49.09
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $102,400
- Median hourly wage: $49.23
- Total employment: 280 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Art directors
- Median annual wage: $102,960
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 250 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $103,140
- Median hourly wage: $49.59
- Total employment: 1,110 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.93
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Taty77 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Median annual wage: $105,590
- Median hourly wage: $50.76
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Median annual wage: $105,910
- Median hourly wage: $50.92
- Total employment: 610 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $106,630
- Median hourly wage: $51.26
- Total employment: 4,970 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $106,910
- Median hourly wage: $51.40
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $106,950
- Median hourly wage: $51.42
- Total employment: 1,820 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $108,230
- Median hourly wage: $52.04
- Total employment: 440 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $108,710
- Median hourly wage: $52.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Operations research analysts
- Median annual wage: $109,440
- Median hourly wage: $52.62
- Total employment: 700 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Actuaries
- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.28
- Total employment: 290 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Web and digital interface designers
- Median annual wage: $111,410
- Median hourly wage: $53.56
- Total employment: 580 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $117,150
- Median hourly wage: $56.32
- Total employment: 10,200 people (9.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $117,310
- Median hourly wage: $56.40
- Total employment: 260 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $120,020
- Median hourly wage: $57.70
- Total employment: 1,230 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $120,640
- Median hourly wage: $58.00
- Total employment: 2,180 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $121,650
- Median hourly wage: $58.49
- Total employment: 220 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aappp // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Aerospace engineers
- Median annual wage: $122,460
- Median hourly wage: $58.88
- Total employment: 350 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Median annual wage: $123,220
- Median hourly wage: $59.24
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $126,850
- Median hourly wage: $60.98
- Total employment: 1,230 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $127,400
- Median hourly wage: $61.25
- Total employment: 2,110 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $127,930
- Median hourly wage: $61.50
- Total employment: 570 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tonhom1009 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Median annual wage: $128,220
- Median hourly wage: $61.64
- Total employment: 220 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $132,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.61
- Total employment: 460 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $132,970
- Median hourly wage: $63.93
- Total employment: 220 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $133,050
- Median hourly wage: $63.97
- Total employment: 3,870 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $133,500
- Median hourly wage: $64.18
- Total employment: 2,040 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $136,840
- Median hourly wage: $65.79
- Total employment: 5,840 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $137,820
- Median hourly wage: $66.26
- Total employment: Not available
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SeventyFour // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Computer hardware engineers
- Median annual wage: $138,270
- Median hourly wage: $66.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $143,020
- Median hourly wage: $68.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $162,410
- Median hourly wage: $78.08
- Total employment: Not available
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $166,320
- Median hourly wage: $79.96
- Total employment: 3,460 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $212,690
- Median hourly wage: $102.26
- Total employment: 970 people (0.9 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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