Some people assume that to make the big bucks, you need to have a master’s degree — or higher. Fortunately, that’s not always true. With the right bachelor’s degree, you can potentially land a gig making six figures a year.
However, not every bachelor’s degree is created equal. Here are the 15 highest-paying jobs that require only a bachelor’s degree.
Product Marketing Manager
Working in marketing can be lucrative — especially if you work in product marketing. This is a specific type of marketing in which you are responsible for promoting your company’s core products.
The median annual salary is $159,660, the highest on this list by far. Finding a job in this field shouldn’t be exceedingly difficult – there are about 411,300 available jobs in total.
Machine Learning Engineer
As AI and machine learning continue to become increasingly essential, working in this field may be even more lucrative. Right now, you can earn a good living as a machine learning engineer, which only requires a bachelor’s degree.
The median annual salary for a machine learning engineer is $140,910. Unfortunately, landing a role as a machine learning engineer can be tricky. There are currently only about 36,600 jobs in this field.
Avionics Systems Manager
If you’re interested in working in the aviation or aerospace industry, there are jobs available that don’t require a master’s degree. You can work as an avionics systems manager, which only requires a bachelor’s degree.
The median annual salary is $134,830. However, there aren’t too many job openings in this field, with only about 68,900 in total.
Software Developer
Software developers have long been known for having relatively high salaries without ever really requiring anything more advanced than a bachelor’s degree. The median annual salary is $131,450.
Out of all the jobs on this list, this is the most popular with almost 2 million total jobs (1,897,100). Plus, if you attend a software bootcamp, then you may even be able to land a software developer job without a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
IT Security Analyst
Working in any kind of cybersecurity role can be a lucrative career — and that’s true for IT security analysts. Plus, you only need a bachelor’s degree to become an IT security analyst. The median annual salary is $124,910, with about 180,700 jobs available.
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Electrical Engineer
Working as an engineer is often a stepping stone to earning a high salary – and many of these jobs only ask that you have a bachelor’s degree. If you’re interested in electrical engineering, then you’re on your way to a six-figure salary. The median annual income is $118,780, and there are about 287,800 total jobs in the profession.
Mechanical Engineer
Working as a mechanical engineer only requires a bachelor’s degree. And having that degree will net you a median annual salary of $102,320, not bad at all. Plus, there are about 291,900 jobs total, which is a reasonable number.
Financial Advisor
Working as a financial advisor is similar to being in sales. While you definitely need a bachelor’s degree and other licenses to work as a financial advisor, you also need to be good with people to succeed. The median annual salary is $102,140, and there are about 321,100 financial advisor jobs.
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Financial Analyst
A financial analyst is an individual who knows how to analyze financial data to help businesses improve their profit margins.
And while the title sounds incredibly prestigious, you only need to have a bachelor’s degree to work as a financial analyst. Plus, the median annual salary is $101,190. There are plenty of jobs for anyone interested, with about 404,800 in total.
Project Manager
Project managers can work in a wide variety of fields, with a median annual salary of $100,750. You only need to have a bachelor’s degree to become a project manager. Sometimes, a general degree, along with a project management certification, can be enough to land a job in this field successfully.
Also, there are a large number of jobs, 973,600 total in 2025.
UX Designer
User experience is an essential part of design and functionality. These jobs typically only require a bachelor’s degree, but you can earn almost six-figures (the median annual salary is $95,380). There are about 222,600 jobs for UX designers, which is a healthy number.
Product Designer
A product designer designs physical or digital products and oversees their development.
The median annual salary of $79,450 is not bad for a job that only needs a bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, finding a job as a product designer can be challenging. There are only about 34,000 jobs in this industry.
Marketing Research Analyst
Working as a marketing research analyst only requires a four-year degree, and you can net a decent salary ($76,950). If you are interested in marketing, then you shouldn’t have trouble finding a gig. There are about 411,300 total jobs in this field.
Sales representative
Being good at sales doesn’t necessarily require any skills that you learn in school (although a degree can’t hurt). Instead, it’s all about how you can relate to people. If you’re good at reading people, then you can succeed in sales. There are about 1,681,400 sales rep jobs right now, which is the second most out of any job on this list.
The median annual salary for a sales representative is $74,100.
Graphic designer
Being a graphic designer is all about having a good eye. And while going to the right school can help you, you also need an innate sense of creativity. The median annual salary for a graphic designer is $61,300. There’s a reasonable number of jobs in this field, with 267,200 in total.
More Career Tips From Cheapism
- 15 Low-Stress, High-Paying Jobs to Pursue — People generally want two key things from their jobs: a decent salary and a relaxed environment. These jobs offer a great way to attain both.
- 13 Recession-Proof Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree, According to Experts — Here are some of the best career paths to pursue if you’re looking to make a mid-career pivot or want to start your career in an industry that’ll be a safe bet no matter what the global economic landscape looks like.
- The 15 Most In-Demand Jobs Right Now — If you’re looking to change careers or researching which industry is hot right now, you may be surprised at what you find.
