Some bachelor’s degree jobs offer a high return.
It’s pretty common knowledge that earning a graduate degree can lead to a high-salary job. But in some fields, a bachelor’s credential is sufficient to put workers on a path to six-figure earnings. Such a high level of compensation may not be immediate. In many cases, workers will need to get some years of experience under their belt before they can advance to higher-salary positions. Employers may also look for candidates who hold professional certifications — so the studying doesn’t completely cease after college graduation. The following careers, listed in alphabetical order, are a few occupations where a bachelor’s degree can lead to a job with an annual salary upward of $100,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the BLS indicates that a bachelor’s degree is usually adequate for these fields, some employers may prefer or require candidates to have a graduate degree.
Actuary
Actuaries are responsible for assessing and minimizing financial risk. They often work in the insurance industry. Actuaries need to pass a series of exams to earn professional certification. The median salary for this occupation was $101,560 in 2017, per the most recent data from the BLS. The number of actuary jobs is predicted to grow 22 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS.
Advertising and promotions managers
Advertising managers work to boost interest in a product or service by developing effective ad campaigns. Promotions managers aim to increase a company’s sales by managing projects that combine advertising with some sort of purchasing incentive, like a coupon or sample. The median salary for these types of positions in 2017 was $106,130, according to the BLS, which also predicts that the number of jobs for advertising and promotions managers will increase by 5 percent from 2016 to 2026.
Aerospace engineer
Engineers working in the aerospace field design aircraft, missiles, satellites and spacecraft. In 2017, aerospace engineers’ median pay was $113,030, per BLS data. The number of aerospace engineer jobs is expected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS. This is just below the average employment growth for all occupations: 7 percent.
Chemical engineer
Chemical engineers design and are involved in other aspects of manufacturing processes that involve chemicals, fuel, drugs, food and other types of products. In 2017, chemical engineers took home a median salary of $102,160, according to BLS data. This occupation’s growth outlook from 2016 to 2026 is 8 percent, according to the BLS.
Compensation and benefits managers
Compensation and benefits managers develop an organization’s pay and benefits structures. Some managers will focus on both compensation and benefits, while others will specialize in one field or the other. Workers in this profession earned a median salary of $119,120 in 2017, according to BLS data. The BLS predicts 5 percent employment growth from 2016 to 2026 for compensation and benefits managers.
Computer hardware engineer
Computer hardware engineers are responsible for designing and testing computer systems and their various components. The median annual salary for workers in this field was $115,120 in 2017, per BLS data. The number of computer hardware engineer jobs is expected to grow by 5 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS.
Computer network architect
Computer network architects design, build and maintain data communication networks, such as cloud infrastructures and intranets. Workers in this profession earned a median salary of $104,650 in 2017, according to the BLS. The number of computer network architect jobs is predicted to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the BLS.
Human resources manager
Human resources managers oversee the administrative functions of a business. Among other duties, workers in this role often help manage a company’s recruitment, interview and hiring processes. In 2017, human resources managers took home a median salary of $110,120, according to the BLS. The number of jobs for HR managers is predicted to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, per BLS data.
Marketing manager
Marketing managers support organizations by identifying potential markets for products and developing pricing strategies, among other responsibilities. According to the most recent data available from the BLS, marketing managers earn a median salary of $132,230. The BLS predicts the number of jobs in this field will grow by 10 percent from 2016 to 2026.
Sales manager
Sales managers direct the distribution of a company’s products to its customers. This can involve assigning sales territories, setting sales goals and creating training programs for sales representatives, among other responsibilities. According to the BLS, the median salary for sales managers in 2017 was $121,060. The projected growth rate for this position is 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, per BLS data.
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Bachelor’s Degree Jobs That Can Pay More Than $100K originally appeared on usnews.com
