Highest paying jobs in Richmond that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in Richmond 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 Richmond, VA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 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 Richmond, VA.
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#50. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
- Annual mean salary: $81,250
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $103,550
- Employment: 23,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($161,290)
--- Corpus Christi, TX ($156,870)
--- Midland, TX ($156,270)

#49. Music directors and composers
- Annual mean salary: $82,430
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,080
- Employment: 9,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($105,820)
--- Trenton, NJ ($104,090)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($86,070)

#48. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $82,690
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 426,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($154,880)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,290)
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($121,180)
#47. Budget analysts
- Annual mean salary: $82,790
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,240
- Employment: 47,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,670)
--- Iowa City, IA ($108,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,380)
#46. Architects, except landscape and naval
- Annual mean salary: $84,300
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,900
- Employment: 100,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($120,430)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($115,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,780)
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#45. Emergency management directors
- Annual mean salary: $85,490
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,800
- Employment: 10,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,000)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($123,170)
#44. Chemists
- Annual mean salary: $85,660
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,130
- Employment: 80,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,290)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($115,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($108,330)
#43. Computer programmers
- Annual mean salary: $86,730
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,650
- Employment: 152,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,220)
--- Dalton, GA ($123,500)

#42. Commercial and industrial designers
- Annual mean salary: $87,500
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,680
- Employment: 27,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($132,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,370)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($108,760)
#41. Social and community service managers
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,790
- Employment: 156,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,530)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,240)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($98,200)
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#40. Network and computer systems administrators
- Annual mean salary: $89,800
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,250
- Employment: 316,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($135,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,930)
#39. Civil engineers
- Annual mean salary: $90,990
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,490
- Employment: 304,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,720)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,550)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,120)

#38. Art directors
- Annual mean salary: $91,380
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,430
- Employment: 42,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,310)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($146,040)
#37. Mechanical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $91,520
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,000
- Employment: 278,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($137,540)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($128,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,030)

#36. Management analysts
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)
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#35. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $94,920
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,700
- Employment: 22,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($127,700)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,690)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,770)
#34. Credit analysts
- Annual mean salary: $97,980
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,030
- Employment: 68,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($128,950)
--- Danbury, CT ($121,560)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,860)
#33. Environmental engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,310
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,220
- Employment: 42,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,470)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($127,160)
#32. Industrial engineers
- Annual mean salary: $98,530
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- Employment: 293,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($142,770)
--- Midland, TX ($129,440)
--- Billings, MT ($126,170)
#31. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $98,830
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
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#30. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $99,210
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- Employment: 266,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,760)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($141,470)
--- Iowa City, IA ($138,870)

#29. Computer systems analysts
- Annual mean salary: $99,570
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- Employment: 505,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($131,650)
--- Huntsville, AL ($118,690)
#28. Chemical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $99,670
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 24,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($173,640)
--- Anchorage, AK ($159,010)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($152,820)
#27. Operations research analysts
- Annual mean salary: $102,140
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,830
- Employment: 98,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,730)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($127,330)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($118,710)
#26. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $102,200
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,020
- Employment: 17,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($151,560)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($122,950)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($120,340)
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#25. Construction managers
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#24. Materials engineers
- Annual mean salary: $103,290
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,950
- Employment: 21,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($135,680)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($134,720)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($129,400)
#23. Electrical engineers
- Annual mean salary: $103,430
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $107,890
- Employment: 186,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($148,870)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($133,640)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,680)

#22. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $107,200
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
#21. Information security analysts
- Annual mean salary: $108,870
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,270
- Employment: 157,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($150,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,250)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($135,080)
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#20. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $113,580
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
#19. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $113,980
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#18. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $115,010
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)

#17. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,470
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#16. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,570
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)
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#15. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $120,810
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

#14. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $124,350
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,230
- Employment: 73,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($161,580)

#13. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $127,810
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
#12. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $128,530
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)

#11. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,590
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
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#10. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $132,430
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)
#9. Personal financial advisors
- Annual mean salary: $132,640
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)

#8. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,020
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)
#7. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $139,980
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)
#6. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $144,220
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
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#5. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $145,970
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#4. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $146,410
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#3. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $155,650
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
#2. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $161,650
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)
#1. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $247,070
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
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