Rido // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Human resources specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 430 people (5.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Racine 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 Racine, using annual compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Kzenon // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Training and development specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.41
- Total employment: 200 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 120 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anyaivanova // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 80 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 330 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Child, family, and school social workers
- Median annual wage: $69,800
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 200 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
boonchoke // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Business operations specialists, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,720
- Median hourly wage: $34.48
- Total employment: 190 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GLRL // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Median annual wage: $72,610
- Median hourly wage: $34.91
- Total employment: 320 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Chemists
- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 170 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,700
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Computer occupations, all other
- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer programmers
- Median annual wage: $76,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Logisticians
- Median annual wage: $76,780
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 130 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Compliance officers
- Median annual wage: $77,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Credit analysts
- Median annual wage: $77,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Software quality assurance analysts and testers
- Median annual wage: $77,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Accountants and auditors
- Median annual wage: $78,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 560 people (7.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mongta Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cost estimators
- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 120 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
comzeal images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Loan officers
- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 150 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Occupational health and safety specialists
- Median annual wage: $80,050
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Social and community service managers
- Median annual wage: $80,170
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 100 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Registered nurses
- Median annual wage: $81,040
- Median hourly wage: $38.96
- Total employment: 1,230 people (16.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Network and computer systems administrators
- Median annual wage: $81,640
- Median hourly wage: $39.25
- Total employment: 190 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Undrey // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Financial and investment analysts
- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 90 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Industrial engineers
- Median annual wage: $84,950
- Median hourly wage: $40.84
- Total employment: 690 people (8.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Civil engineers
- Median annual wage: $86,500
- Median hourly wage: $41.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Mechanical engineers
- Median annual wage: $86,820
- Median hourly wage: $41.74
- Total employment: 300 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Project management specialists
- Median annual wage: $91,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.97
- Total employment: 350 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Computer systems analysts
- Median annual wage: $93,950
- Median hourly wage: $45.17
- Total employment: 110 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Electrical engineers
- Median annual wage: $94,170
- Median hourly wage: $45.28
- Total employment: 110 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Management analysts
- Median annual wage: $97,100
- Median hourly wage: $46.69
- Total employment: 180 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Software developers
- Median annual wage: $97,280
- Median hourly wage: $46.77
- Total employment: 310 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Personal financial advisors
- Median annual wage: $98,650
- Median hourly wage: $47.43
- Total employment: 70 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Data scientists
- Median annual wage: $101,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $101,710
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $102,400
- Median hourly wage: $49.23
- Total employment: 180 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $105,710
- Median hourly wage: $50.82
- Total employment: 90 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $114,050
- Median hourly wage: $54.83
- Total employment: 950 people (12.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $114,780
- Median hourly wage: $55.19
- Total employment: 110 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $116,670
- Median hourly wage: $56.09
- Total employment: 300 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Computer network architects
- Median annual wage: $117,110
- Median hourly wage: $56.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $120,130
- Median hourly wage: $57.76
- Total employment: 80 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $124,440
- Median hourly wage: $59.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $125,220
- Median hourly wage: $60.20
- Total employment: 90 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $129,100
- Median hourly wage: $62.07
- Total employment: 250 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $130,180
- Median hourly wage: $62.59
- Total employment: 70 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $133,920
- Median hourly wage: $64.39
- Total employment: 270 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $134,710
- Median hourly wage: $64.76
- Total employment: 220 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $136,360
- Median hourly wage: $65.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: $187,830
- Median hourly wage: $90.30
- Total employment: 100 people (1.34 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.
