Highest paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that require a bachelor's degree

While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, a bachelor's degree remains essential to many high-paying jobs across the United States.

Annual tuition and fees at four-year colleges rose 10 to 14% on average from 2010-11 to 2021-22, National Center for Education Statistics data shows. For many students, this means taking out loans. Federal student loan recipients who earned a bachelor's degree in 2016 borrowed an average of over $45,000 to earn their degree, as measured four years after graduation.

While expensive, bachelor's degrees provide higher earnings potential for U.S. workers. A Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis from 2021 shows that bachelor's degree holders make $277 more weekly than the median for all jobs, and $525 more than those whose highest education level is a high school diploma. What's more, the unemployment rate is lower for bachelor's degree holders at 3.5%, compared to 4.7% for all U.S. workers.

To be sure, not all jobs that require a bachelor's pay well. So, if you're going to get an undergraduate degree, what jobs will pay enough to make it worthwhile?

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Charleston that require a bachelor's degree. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor's degree in Charleston.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Insurance underwriters

- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

2 / 50

#49. Compliance officers

- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 880 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Project management specialists

- Median annual wage: $80,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 1,610 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

4 / 50

#47. Civil engineers

- Median annual wage: $81,690
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 1,080 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Undrey // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Financial and investment analysts

- Median annual wage: $82,530
- Median hourly wage: $39.68
- Total employment: 640 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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fizkes // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Management analysts

- Median annual wage: $83,410
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Total employment: 1,840 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Data scientists

- Median annual wage: $83,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 160 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Technical writers

- Median annual wage: $83,720
- Median hourly wage: $40.25
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#41. Social workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PanuShot // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Financial specialists, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 230 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

- Median annual wage: $85,350
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Network and computer systems administrators

- Median annual wage: $88,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.43
- Total employment: 690 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

13 / 50

#38. Mechanical engineers

- Median annual wage: $88,730
- Median hourly wage: $42.66
- Total employment: 630 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Software quality assurance analysts and testers

- Median annual wage: $89,820
- Median hourly wage: $43.18
- Total employment: 170 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

15 / 50

#36. Biological scientists, all other

- Median annual wage: $89,940
- Median hourly wage: $43.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Industrial engineers

- Median annual wage: $90,390
- Median hourly wage: $43.46
- Total employment: 860 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

17 / 50

#34. General and operations managers

- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 8,420 people (23.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

18 / 50

#33. Electrical engineers

- Median annual wage: $93,000
- Median hourly wage: $44.71
- Total employment: 440 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Facilities managers

- Median annual wage: $95,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.98
- Total employment: 190 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

20 / 50

#31. Construction managers

- Median annual wage: $95,930
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 790 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

creativemarc // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Administrative services managers

- Median annual wage: $97,830
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 890 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PR Image Factory // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Operations research analysts

- Median annual wage: $98,640
- Median hourly wage: $47.43
- Total employment: 210 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

23 / 50

#28. Environmental engineers

- Median annual wage: $98,890
- Median hourly wage: $47.55
- Total employment: 140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

24 / 50

#27. Computer systems analysts

- Median annual wage: $99,640
- Median hourly wage: $47.91
- Total employment: 1,920 people (5.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Engineers, all other

- Median annual wage: $100,300
- Median hourly wage: $48.22
- Total employment: 420 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Database administrators

- Median annual wage: $100,470
- Median hourly wage: $48.30
- Total employment: 110 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Marketing managers

- Median annual wage: $100,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.50
- Total employment: Not available

TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Sales engineers

- Median annual wage: $100,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Medical and health services managers

- Median annual wage: $100,950
- Median hourly wage: $48.53
- Total employment: 1,430 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Human resources managers

- Median annual wage: $102,150
- Median hourly wage: $49.11
- Total employment: 330 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Training and development managers

- Median annual wage: $103,560
- Median hourly wage: $49.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VE.Studio // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Natural sciences managers

- Median annual wage: $103,790
- Median hourly wage: $49.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Public relations managers

- Median annual wage: $105,330
- Median hourly wage: $50.64
- Total employment: 190 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com //Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Web and digital interface designers

- Median annual wage: $105,440
- Median hourly wage: $50.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Computer network architects

- Median annual wage: $106,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.97
- Total employment: 290 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

36 / 50

#15. Sales managers

- Median annual wage: $108,580
- Median hourly wage: $52.20
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BalanceFormCreative // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Information security analysts

- Median annual wage: $108,860
- Median hourly wage: $52.34
- Total employment: 490 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Software developers

- Median annual wage: $109,110
- Median hourly wage: $52.46
- Total employment: 2,360 people (6.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PanuShot // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Advertising and promotions managers

- Median annual wage: $110,860
- Median hourly wage: $53.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Computer occupations, all other

- Median annual wage: $112,130
- Median hourly wage: $53.91
- Total employment: 1,090 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SeventyFour // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Computer hardware engineers

- Median annual wage: $117,750
- Median hourly wage: $56.61
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Database architects

- Median annual wage: $117,890
- Median hourly wage: $56.68
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Industrial production managers

- Median annual wage: $118,080
- Median hourly wage: $56.77
- Total employment: 560 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

44 / 50

#7. Electronics engineers, except computer

- Median annual wage: $118,310
- Median hourly wage: $56.88
- Total employment: 550 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $118,930
- Median hourly wage: $57.18
- Total employment: 370 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Purchasing managers

- Median annual wage: $121,610
- Median hourly wage: $58.47
- Total employment: 150 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

47 / 50

#4. Financial managers

- Median annual wage: $121,640
- Median hourly wage: $58.48
- Total employment: 1,370 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Computer and information systems managers

- Median annual wage: $132,440
- Median hourly wage: $63.68
- Total employment: 730 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Canva

49 / 50

#2. Architectural and engineering managers

- Median annual wage: $133,520
- Median hourly wage: $64.19
- Total employment: 650 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Chief executives

- Median annual wage: $225,720
- Median hourly wage: $108.52
- Total employment: 430 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Highest paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that require a bachelor's degree

#50. Insurance underwriters

#49. Compliance officers

#48. Project management specialists

#47. Civil engineers

#46. Financial and investment analysts

#45. Management analysts

#44. Data scientists

#43. Technical writers

#41. Social workers, all other (tie)

#41. Financial specialists, all other (tie)

#40. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

#39. Network and computer systems administrators

#38. Mechanical engineers

#37. Software quality assurance analysts and testers

#36. Biological scientists, all other

#35. Industrial engineers

#34. General and operations managers

#33. Electrical engineers

#32. Facilities managers

#31. Construction managers

#30. Administrative services managers

#29. Operations research analysts

#28. Environmental engineers

#27. Computer systems analysts

#26. Engineers, all other

#25. Database administrators

#24. Marketing managers

#23. Sales engineers

#22. Medical and health services managers

#21. Human resources managers

#20. Training and development managers

#19. Natural sciences managers

#18. Public relations managers

#17. Web and digital interface designers

#16. Computer network architects

#15. Sales managers

#14. Information security analysts

#13. Software developers

#12. Advertising and promotions managers

#11. Computer occupations, all other

#10. Computer hardware engineers

#9. Database architects

#8. Industrial production managers

#7. Electronics engineers, except computer

#6. Managers, all other

#5. Purchasing managers

#4. Financial managers

#3. Computer and information systems managers

#2. Architectural and engineering managers

#1. Chief executives

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