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

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February 10, 2021
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Highest paying jobs in Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh.

1 / 50
science photo // Shutterstock

#50. Food scientists and technologists

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $75,090
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,190
- Employment: 13,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($101,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($97,500)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($96,020)

2 / 50
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#49. Financial examiners

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $75,100
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,330
- Employment: 64,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($125,290)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($125,150)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,720)

3 / 50
Csomos Attila // Shutterstock

#48. Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $76,220
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,350
- Employment: 29,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($207,900)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($170,220)
--- Midland, TX ($165,590)

4 / 50
Ivan Chudakov

#47. Conservation scientists

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $77,030
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,040
- Employment: 22,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($99,620)
--- Trenton, NJ ($99,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,190)

5 / 50
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#46. Social and community service managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $78,540
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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)

6 / 50
PR Image Factory // Shutterstock

#45. Operations research analysts

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $80,880
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#44. Technical writers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $81,640
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,860
- Employment: 50,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($102,500)
--- Boulder, CO ($100,500)

8 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#43. Architects, except landscape and naval

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $83,370
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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)

9 / 50
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

#42. Credit analysts

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $83,400
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- Employment: 73,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($120,850)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,330)

10 / 50
Canva

#41. Environmental engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $84,140
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

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)

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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $84,770
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570

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)

12 / 50
Pakorn Khantiyaporn // Shutterstock

#39. Logisticians

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $85,100
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- Employment: 182,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lake Charles, LA ($124,160)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($106,490)
--- Anchorage, AK ($100,690)

13 / 50
comzeal images // Shutterstock

#38. Loan officers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $85,540
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,200
- Employment: 308,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($117,330)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($113,480)
--- Yuba City, CA ($113,340)

14 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#37. Industrial engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $89,530
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

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)

15 / 50
Canva

#36. Civil engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $90,380
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,920

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
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock

#35. Network and computer systems administrators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $90,530
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,860

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)

17 / 50
Canva

#34. Electrical engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $91,610
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,350

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)

18 / 50
Canva

#33. Mechanical engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $91,660
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

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)

19 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#32. Art directors

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $93,920
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $95,730
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,070

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
Canva

#30. Materials engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $96,200
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,890
- Employment: 26,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,690)
--- Boulder, CO ($127,260)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($126,970)

22 / 50
TaLaNoVa // Shutterstock

#29. Sales engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $96,690
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

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
Canva

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $97,690
- #39 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)

24 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#27. Database administrators and architects

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $100,460
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

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)

25 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#26. Management analysts

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $101,220
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,020

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)

26 / 50
EU2017EE // Flickr

#25. Information security analysts

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $103,260
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420

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)

27 / 50
IBM Research // Flickr

#24. Computer network architects

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $103,340
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

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)

28 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $104,570
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,980
- Employment: 306,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($136,780)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($128,380)
--- Casper, WY ($125,850)

29 / 50
PIYAWAT WONGOPASS // Shutterstock

#22. Computer programmers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $105,170
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230

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)

30 / 50
BDUK fibre // flickr

#21. Electronics engineers, except computer

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $107,330
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

31 / 50
Bradley Evans // U.S. Navy

#19 (tie). Chemical engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

32 / 50
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock

#19 (tie). Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $108,660
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,600

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)

33 / 50
Pixabay

#18. Advertising and promotions managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $110,320
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,890
- Employment: 25,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($200,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,210)

34 / 50
USACE NY // Flickr

#17. Construction managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $110,330
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,020

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)

35 / 50
dokurose // Shutterstock

#16. Actuaries

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $112,200
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

36 / 50
SeventyFour // Shutterstock

#15. Computer hardware engineers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $117,000
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)

37 / 50
Financial Times // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Personal financial advisors

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $118,520
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190

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)

38 / 50
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

#13. Industrial production managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $118,730
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

39 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#12. Purchasing managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $122,720
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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)

40 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#11. Human resources managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $123,230
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

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)

41 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#10. Training and development managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $124,880
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)

42 / 50
Pixabay

#9. Compensation and benefits managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $125,170
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

43 / 50
Canva

#8. Financial managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $140,770
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,790

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)

44 / 50
Almonroth // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Computer and information systems managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $143,750
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,700

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)

45 / 50
Pixabay

#6. General and operations managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $145,790
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,360

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)

46 / 50
Canva

#5. Sales managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $148,240
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,350

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)

47 / 50
Pixabay

#4. Architectural and engineering managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $149,120
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960

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)

48 / 50
TopRank Online Marketing // Flickr

#3. Marketing managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $150,520
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490

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)

49 / 50
NTNU // Flickr

#2. Natural sciences managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $162,180
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

50 / 50
Maurizio Pesce // flickr

#1. Chief executives

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $218,300
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

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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