Highest paying jobs in Columbus that require a bachelor's degree

Written by:
February 9, 2021
Almonroth // Wikimedia Commons

Highest paying jobs in Columbus 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 Columbus using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 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 Columbus.

1 / 50
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#50. Social and community service managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $79,000
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,900
- Employment: 156,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($93,060)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,720)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($92,200)
2 / 50
Aleksandar Karanov // Shutterstock

#49. Occupational health and safety specialists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $79,160
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,290
- Employment: 92,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,230)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($99,020)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($97,560)
3 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#48. Fashion designers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $79,260
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,110
- Employment: 22,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($112,530)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,080)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($94,980)
4 / 50
Reeta Asmai // UC Davis

#47. Bioengineers and biomedical engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,090
- Employment: 19,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,100)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($119,000)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($117,790)
5 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#46. Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $80,400
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,090
- Employment: 437,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,880)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($148,960)
--- Owensboro, KY ($133,600)
6 / 50
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock

#45. Operations research analysts

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $80,690
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,600
- Employment: 99,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,530)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,310)
--- Salinas, CA ($121,050)
7 / 50
U.S. Department of State // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Atmospheric and space scientists

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $80,730
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,160
- Employment: 9,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($135,520)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($120,170)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($119,660)
8 / 50
Patrizio Martorana // Shutterstock

#43. Environmental scientists and specialists, including health

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $82,190
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,940
- Employment: 84,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($122,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,180)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($104,210)
9 / 50
sabthai // Shutterstock

#42. Budget analysts

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $82,690
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,300
- Employment: 51,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,920)
--- Boulder, CO ($103,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,770)
10 / 50
Canva

#41. Electrical engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $82,730
- #256 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)
11 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#40. Industrial engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $85,280
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Mechanical engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $85,450
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)
13 / 50
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#38. Network and computer systems administrators

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $86,250
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 354,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,440)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($112,910)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($109,790)
14 / 50
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock

#37. Computer programmers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $86,600
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,610
- Employment: 199,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,990)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($113,760)
15 / 50
Canva

#36. Civil engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $86,890
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,360
- Employment: 310,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($120,110)
--- Midland, TX ($117,900)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($117,200)
16 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#35. Management analysts

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $88,240
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,560
- Employment: 709,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($132,090)
--- Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL ($127,750)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($127,570)
17 / 50
BDUK fibre // flickr

#34. Electronics engineers, except computer

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $88,550
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

National
- Annual mean salary: $110,210
- Employment: 128,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($132,600)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($130,890)
18 / 50
Canva

#33. Environmental engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $88,640
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,220
- Employment: 53,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($123,340)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($120,600)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($117,170)
19 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#32. Art directors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $89,450
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $109,600
- Employment: 42,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,970)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,810)
20 / 50
Canva

#31. Computer systems analysts

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $90,840
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,160
- Employment: 589,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($119,540)
21 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#30. Architects, except landscape and naval

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $91,600
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,560
- Employment: 105,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($123,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,550)
--- Lubbock, TX ($116,720)
22 / 50
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock

#29. Sales engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $92,860
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,780
- Employment: 63,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($158,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($156,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($153,860)
23 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#28. Database administrators and architects

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $95,360
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- Employment: 125,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($114,960)
24 / 50
Canva

#27. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $96,380
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,810
- Employment: 25,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,110)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($122,020)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($121,620)
25 / 50
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

#26. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $97,580
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)
26 / 50
Budimir Jevtic // Shutterstock

#25. Agricultural engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $98,860
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,290
- Employment: 1,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Columbus, OH ($98,860)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($92,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,490)
27 / 50
dokurose // Shutterstock

#24. Actuaries

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $98,880
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,970
- Employment: 22,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($167,850)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($150,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($147,760)
28 / 50
EU2017EE // Flickr

#23. Information security analysts

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $99,260
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,390

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
29 / 50
possohh // Shutterstock

#22. Emergency management directors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $104,030
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,530
- Employment: 10,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,440)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($123,230)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($120,230)
30 / 50
SeventyFour // Shutterstock

#21. Computer hardware engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $104,460
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 67,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($161,210)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($149,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($142,820)
31 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Medical and health services managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $104,570
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)
32 / 50
USACE NY // Flickr

#19. Construction managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $107,420
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,820

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)
33 / 50
IBM Research // Flickr

#18. Computer network architects

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $107,870
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)
34 / 50
Bradley Evans // U.S. Navy

#17. Chemical engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,090
- Employment: 30,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($162,330)
--- Midland, TX ($152,170)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($150,680)
35 / 50
Financial Times // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Personal financial advisors

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $113,520
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,290
- Employment: 210,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Montgomery, AL ($178,100)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($173,970)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($171,370)
36 / 50
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

#15. Industrial production managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $114,130
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)
37 / 50
IBM Research // Flickr

#14. Aerospace engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $118,820
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,220
- Employment: 63,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($144,090)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($139,560)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,230)
38 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#13. Training and development managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $119,580
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,470
- Employment: 38,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,900)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,380)
39 / 50
NTNU // Flickr

#12. Natural sciences managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $121,210
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,450
- Employment: 67,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($222,530)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($208,910)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($206,710)
40 / 50
Pixabay

#11. General and operations managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $122,770
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)
41 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#10. Purchasing managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $129,000
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- Employment: 72,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($171,560)
--- Morgantown, WV ($163,830)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($160,620)
42 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#9. Human resources managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $133,180
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $135,810
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $174,870
- Employment: 84,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,550)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($241,310)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($238,320)
44 / 50
Pixabay

#7. Architectural and engineering managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $137,910
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)
45 / 50
Canva

#6. Sales managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $138,690
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)
46 / 50
Almonroth // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Computer and information systems managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $140,790
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)
47 / 50
Canva

#4. Financial managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $143,080
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)
48 / 50
Pixabay

#3. Compensation and benefits managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $146,540
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,210
- Employment: 16,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($181,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($179,430)
--- New Haven, CT ($179,310)
49 / 50
TopRank Online Marketing // Flickr

#2. Marketing managers

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $150,490
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)
50 / 50
Maurizio Pesce // flickr

#1. Chief executives

Columbus, OH
- Annual mean salary: $182,060
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)

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