
Highest paying jobs in Salt Lake City that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Salt Lake City that require a bachelor's degree
While college and university tuition costs may be skyrocketing, many still believe a bachelor’s degree is essential to landing a high-paying job in the United States. Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs that typically require a bachelors in Salt Lake City using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage.
Whether highly technical, scientific, or based in finance or the arts, all the jobs require keeping up to date with the latest developments in culture, commerce, or tech.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs that require a bachelor degree in Salt Lake City.
#50. Environmental engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $76,330
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,890
- Employment: 50,260
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($128,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,210)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($114,890)
- Job description: Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
#49. Special effects artists and animators
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $76,780
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,080
- Employment: 26,460
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($110,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($102,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($100,510)
- Job description: Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
#48. Civil engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $77,520
- #298 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,440
- Employment: 300,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($125,910)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($121,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,860)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

#47. Computer systems analysts
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $77,590
- #260 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,020
- Employment: 574,450
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,350)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,070)
- Job description: Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
#46. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $77,690
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,340
- Employment: 18,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($130,220)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($124,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,900)
- Job description: Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

#45. Food scientists and technologists
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $77,830
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,190
- Employment: 13,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wichita, KS ($106,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,180)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($98,110)
- Job description: Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

#44. Actuaries
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $79,300
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $123,180
- Employment: 22,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($156,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,230)
--- San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX ($142,550)
- Job description: Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

#43. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $80,690
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,300
- Employment: 27,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,400)
--- Jacksonville, FL ($85,200)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($82,700)
- Job description: Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

#42. Fashion designers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $81,090
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,210
- Employment: 21,050
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($99,650)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($91,210)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,140)
- Job description: Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
#41. Hydrologists
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $81,190
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- Employment: 6,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,380)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($115,020)
- Job description: Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
#40. Network and computer systems administrators
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,460
- Employment: 339,560
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,260)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($116,840)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($111,790)
- Job description: Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
#39. Architects, except landscape and naval
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $83,350
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 103,900
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,510)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($112,110)
- Job description: Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.

#38. Materials engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $83,820
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,550
- Employment: 24,740
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($134,530)
--- Boulder, CO ($131,510)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($130,470)
- Job description: Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those engineers working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials. Includes metallurgists and metallurgical engineers, ceramic engineers, and welding engineers.
#37. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $84,730
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,610
- Employment: 87,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,130)
--- Boulder, CO ($92,780)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,250)
- Job description: Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.

#36. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $85,970
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,140
- Employment: 6,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($127,900)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($111,530)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($110,390)
- Job description: Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.
#35. Computer programmers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $86,270
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,640
- Employment: 178,140
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,420)
--- Midland, TX ($119,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,530)
- Job description: Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
#34. Industrial engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $86,770
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,610
- Employment: 290,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($125,760)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($123,710)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,510)
- Job description: Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
#33. Atmospheric and space scientists
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $88,710
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,550
- Employment: 10,210
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($128,100)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($123,080)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($121,200)
- Job description: Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
#32. Personal financial advisors
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $90,450
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,490
- Employment: 218,050
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Gainesville, FL ($206,120)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($169,850)
--- Tyler, TX ($169,690)
- Job description: Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.
#31. Construction managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $91,120
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,260
- Employment: 285,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($161,780)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($154,800)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($153,490)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

#30. Database administrators and architects
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $91,290
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,090
- Employment: 133,630
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($126,540)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($120,430)
- Job description: Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
#29. General and operations managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $92,380
- #320 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 23,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,740
- Employment: 2,347,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($183,170)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($175,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,370)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

#28. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $92,990
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,110
- Employment: 27,890
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,400)
--- Tulsa, OK ($186,490)
--- Midland, TX ($167,040)
- Job description: Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
#27. Information security analysts
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $93,110
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,580
- Employment: 138,000
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($147,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,910)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($130,620)
- Job description: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $93,760
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,680
- Employment: 288,150
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rochester, NY ($150,650)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,850)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($141,310)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
#25. Mechanical engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $94,750
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Employment: 293,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,190)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($123,700)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
#24. Advertising and promotions managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $147,560
- Employment: 22,490
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($220,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($185,490)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($181,540)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

#23. Art directors
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $98,450
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,490
- Employment: 40,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,660)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($142,260)
- Job description: Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
#22. Electrical engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $99,740
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,990
- Employment: 185,220
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,480)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($130,150)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($125,700)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

#21. Training and development managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $100,330
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,920
- Employment: 38,710
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($178,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,750)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

#20. Purchasing managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $102,400
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $132,660
- Employment: 70,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($181,240)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($172,300)
--- Morgantown, WV ($167,740)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
#19. Electronics engineers, except computer
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $106,160
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,320
- Employment: 122,320
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,210)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($134,110)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($131,740)
- Job description: Research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls.

#18. Industrial production managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $106,210
- #239 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,190
- Employment: 179,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($171,890)
--- Florence, SC ($167,660)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($155,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.
#17. Aerospace engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $106,350
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,110
- Employment: 60,630
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($151,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($142,260)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($135,490)
- Job description: Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

#16. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $106,810
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,840
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Employment: 1,476,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
#15. Natural sciences managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $107,000
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $154,930
- Employment: 75,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($221,460)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($214,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($205,120)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
#14. Compensation and benefits managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $107,990
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $137,160
- Employment: 16,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($194,810)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($184,050)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($180,840)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
#13. Computer network architects
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $109,180
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,230
- Employment: 159,350
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($161,950)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($152,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($148,250)
- Job description: Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

#12. Sales engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $110,110
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,270
- Employment: 63,780
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($163,860)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($158,140)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($155,490)
- Job description: Sell business goods or services, the selling of which requires a technical background equivalent to a baccalaureate degree in engineering.

#11. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $112,720
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $186,870
- Employment: 83,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($259,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($254,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($252,430)
- Job description: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

#10. Materials scientists
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $113,170
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,450
- Employment: 6,930
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($131,800)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($130,690)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($128,240)
- Job description: Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.

#9. Human resources managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $113,310
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,580
- Employment: 156,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($194,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,890)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($179,870)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

#8. Medical and health services managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $116,900
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,800
- Employment: 402,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($174,010)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($171,430)
--- Madera, CA ($168,090)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

#7. Financial managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $117,810
- #228 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,510
- Employment: 653,080
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($210,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,310)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
#6. Petroleum engineers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $154,330
- Employment: 27,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($185,130)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($178,240)
--- Wichita Falls, TX ($174,910)
- Job description: Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

#5. Sales managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $124,290
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $147,580
- Employment: 390,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($207,070)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,700)
--- Trenton, NJ ($186,960)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
#4. Architectural and engineering managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $129,680
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,100
- Employment: 195,900
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($226,920)
--- Amarillo, TX ($199,940)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,610)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.
#3. Marketing managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $130,060
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $154,470
- Employment: 270,200
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($213,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($211,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($196,260)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
#2. Computer and information systems managers
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $139,600
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $161,730
- Employment: 457,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($235,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($212,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($201,320)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.
#1. Chief executives
Salt Lake City, UT
- Annual mean salary: $168,190
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $197,840
- Employment: 202,360
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($293,000)
--- Midland, TX ($269,360)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($263,770)
- Job description: Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.