Highest paying jobs in San Diego that require a bachelor's degree
Highest paying jobs in San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego.
#50. Marine engineers and naval architects
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $96,680
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,730
- Employment: 11,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,480)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($128,750)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($121,600)
#49. Mechanical engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $97,350
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,620
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)
#48. Civil engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $97,460
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,250
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)
#47. Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $97,900
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,170
- Employment: 17,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($111,780)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,600)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($108,880)
#46. Computer systems analysts
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $98,460
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,830
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)
#45. Network and computer systems administrators
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $98,550
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,820
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)
#44. Materials engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)
#43. Industrial engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,140
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,090
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)
#42. Database administrators and architects
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,490
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160
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)
#41. Conservation scientists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,620
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#40. Hydrologists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,670
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,330
- Employment: 6,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($127,570)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($118,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,850)
#39. Atmospheric and space scientists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,820
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#38. Computer programmers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $104,030
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,780
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)
#37. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $104,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#36. Registered nurses
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $104,860
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,260
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#35. Art directors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $105,340
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#34. Aerospace engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $105,730
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,990
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)
#33. Operations research analysts
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $105,900
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
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)
#32. Electrical engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $106,100
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,530
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)
#31. Information security analysts
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $106,720
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
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)
#30. Construction managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $109,850
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,420
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)
#29. Chemical engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $110,580
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#28. Sales engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $112,510
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
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)
#27. Landscape architects
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $114,540
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,970
- Employment: 20,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($114,540)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($102,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,750)
#26. Financial examiners
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $115,900
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#25. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,020
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,540
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)
#24. Industrial production managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,940
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910
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)
#23. Microbiologists
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $117,950
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,760
- Employment: 18,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($117,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($112,270)
#22. Advertising and promotions managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,610
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#21. Compensation and benefits managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $121,940
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#20. Actuaries
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $123,110
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)
#19. Training and development managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $123,150
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)
#18. Emergency management directors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $123,230
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#17. Computer network architects
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $126,110
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,020
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)
#16. Computer hardware engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $127,990
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010
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)
#14 (tie). Sales managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $128,830
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,660
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)
#14 (tie). Electronics engineers, except computer
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $128,830
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,770
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)
#13. Medical and health services managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $129,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,180
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)
#12. Human resources managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $132,070
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,740
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)
#11. Purchasing managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $132,250
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
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)
#10. Personal financial advisors
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $133,290
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,860
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)
#9. Nuclear engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $136,490
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,700
- Employment: 15,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($146,420)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($145,330)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,270)
#8. General and operations managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $140,980
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 23,380
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)
#7. Marketing managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $148,350
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,170
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)
#6. Financial managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $149,290
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,760
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)
#5. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $154,230
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#4. Architectural and engineering managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $164,200
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,950
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)
#3. Computer and information systems managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $164,570
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,490
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)
#2. Natural sciences managers
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $186,920
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,970
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)
#1. Chief executives
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
- Annual mean salary: $219,480
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,600
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)
