The 50 Best-Paying Careers with Only a Bachelor’s Degree

Before you spend the time and money to acquire a bachelor’s degree, it’s best to take a look at salaries. Students who strategically choose their major have a good chance of landing a good-paying job.

This list shows high-paying jobs which only require a bachelor’s degree; however, some of the jobs are management positions which also require some experience.

The salaries are provided by PayScale and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2012. Jobs are listed in order of their median mid-career salary. Median starting salaries are also given.

1. Petroleum Engineer

$93,000 (median starting salary)

$157,000 (median mid-career salary)

Petroleum engineers design and develop procedures for extracting oil and gas from deposits located below the earth’s surface and from old wells.

Personal characteristics: An aptitude for math and science and strong analytical skills.

2. Aerospace Engineer

$59,400 (median starting salary)

$108,000 (median mid-career salary)

Aerospace engineers design new technologies for defense systems, aviation, and space exploration, as well as missiles.

Personal characteristics: Strong analytical skills, creativity, and an aptitude for math and science.