Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Credit analysts
- Median annual wage: $78,560
- Median hourly wage: $37.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Reading 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 Reading, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You may also like: Reading 7-day weather forecast
Freedy // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Surveyors
- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $78,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,200 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
B Brown // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Median annual wage: $78,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,450 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $79,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.02
- Total employment: 120 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Reading
Undrey // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $79,770
- Median hourly wage: $38.35
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
AlesiaKan // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Health education specialists
- Median annual wage: $82,720
- Median hourly wage: $39.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Interior designers
- Median annual wage: $85,680
- Median hourly wage: $41.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Engineers, all other
- Median annual wage: $86,070
- Median hourly wage: $41.38
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $87,870
- Median hourly wage: $42.24
- Total employment: 190 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Reading by diners
PanuShot // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Financial specialists, all other
- Median annual wage: $87,980
- Median hourly wage: $42.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $91,840
- Median hourly wage: $44.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Median annual wage: $92,320
- Median hourly wage: $44.39
- Total employment: 150 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Median annual wage: $92,330
- Median hourly wage: $44.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $94,350
- Median hourly wage: $45.36
- Total employment: 380 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Reading
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Sales engineers
- Median annual wage: $94,630
- Median hourly wage: $45.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $96,160
- Median hourly wage: $46.23
- Total employment: 690 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.24
- Total employment: 230 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $96,330
- Median hourly wage: $46.31
- Total employment: 3,360 people (19.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.48
- Total employment: 420 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Reading
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,890
- Median hourly wage: $46.58
- Total employment: 310 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
eldar nurkovic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Chemical engineers
- Median annual wage: $96,960
- Median hourly wage: $46.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $97,150
- Median hourly wage: $46.71
- Total employment: 4,050 people (23.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $97,780
- Median hourly wage: $47.01
- Total employment: 160 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $97,900
- Median hourly wage: $47.07
- Total employment: 150 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Reading
fizkes // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $97,950
- Median hourly wage: $47.09
- Total employment: 350 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $100,770
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 230 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Environmental engineers
- Median annual wage: $101,060
- Median hourly wage: $48.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $101,890
- Median hourly wage: $48.98
- Total employment: 600 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $102,350
- Median hourly wage: $49.21
- Total employment: 470 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Reading
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,440
- Median hourly wage: $49.73
- Total employment: 200 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Halfpoint // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Materials engineers
- Median annual wage: $103,930
- Median hourly wage: $49.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $104,440
- Median hourly wage: $50.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $104,870
- Median hourly wage: $50.42
- Total employment: 330 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Information security analysts
- Median annual wage: $105,800
- Median hourly wage: $50.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Reading?
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $109,760
- Median hourly wage: $52.77
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $110,340
- Median hourly wage: $53.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $112,390
- Median hourly wage: $54.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $115,820
- Median hourly wage: $55.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $116,990
- Median hourly wage: $56.25
- Total employment: 490 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Reading
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $119,560
- Median hourly wage: $57.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $121,540
- Median hourly wage: $58.43
- Total employment: 450 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Database architects
- Median annual wage: $124,390
- Median hourly wage: $59.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $125,900
- Median hourly wage: $60.53
- Total employment: 240 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $127,760
- Median hourly wage: $61.42
- Total employment: 610 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Reading
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $129,470
- Median hourly wage: $62.25
- Total employment: 200 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $131,210
- Median hourly wage: $63.08
- Total employment: 770 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $152,260
- Median hourly wage: $73.20
- Total employment: 340 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $153,610
- Median hourly wage: $73.85
- Total employment: 250 people (1.46 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: 260 people (1.52 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: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Reading buyers
