6 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get With a Bachelor’s Degree

While higher-level positions within the medical sector may be out of reach with just a bachelor’s degree, nursing careers can offer fairly surprising pay packets. In the US for example, nursing is projected to grow by 15 percent over the next eight years, much faster than other occupations. Entry-level nurses in the US earn around $48,690. According to NACE, healthcare administration graduates earn more, at an average of $55,200.  

In the UK, although the differentiation with the US medical industry is clear, newly graduating nurses can still expect to earn a reasonable starting salary of £22,000–£28,500 (~$31,300-40,600).

What you’ll need: To gain an entry-level role as a nurse in the US you will need to gain a diploma, an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSc). In the UK, you’ll need a degree and must be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

IT professionals are sought-after more than ever before, thanks to the fast-paced world of computer technology and the increasing dominance of online and IT skills. In the US, the median salary of a computer programmer stood at $82,240 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2017, with starting salaries for computer science graduates reaching an average of $66,005 according to the NACE Salary Survey.

In the UK, computer programmers earn an average of £30,779 (~$43,800), depending on the hiring industry (with blue-chip employers paying the largest sums).

Other high-paying jobs within the IT sector include those within web development (median salary of $67,990 in the US), network architecture ($104,650) and software development ($103,560 ), with starting salaries also looking fairly healthy.

What you’ll need: To become a computer programmer in the US or UK you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in an IT-related field such as computer science, information systems or mathematics. Some entry-level roles may require work experience.

Graduate careers in public relations can be lucrative, with specialist roles in the US earning a median salary of $53,241 annually, and management roles boasting a hefty median salary of $111,280, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. NACE’s Salary Survey 2018 report found that communications graduates overall earn an average of $51,448.

Across the pond in the UK, public relations roles are also fairly well paid, with PR executives and assistants earning an average of £20,300 (~$28,900), PR officers earning between £22,000 and £28,000 (~$31,300 to $39,850), and managers earning upwards of £35,525 (~$50,600).

What you’ll need: While public relations careers are relatively easy to get into with just a bachelor’s degree, hard work and perseverance is needed before gaining a coveted managerial pay packet. Public relations employers will often look kindly upon graduates with undergraduate degrees in subjects such as communications, journalism, English, business, marketing and media studies.

It’s common knowledge that the business world is where the big bucks come from, but more often than not the highest wages are reserved for those either with years of experience or with years of graduate study behind them. To become a management consultant, however, often an undergraduate degree is all you need to get your foot in the door – and, gratefully, that foot is likely to get a nice starting salary.

According to NACE’s 2018 Salary Survey, management consultancy is a top-paying industry for the Class of 2018 in the US, with new hires earning salaries of $67,569, while the median pay for consultants of all levels stands at US$82,450 annually. Notably, it has also been predicted that employment rates in the US will grow approximately 14 percent over the next eight years.

In the UK, starting salaries currently average between £25,000 and £30,000 annually according to Prospects (~$35,600 to $42,700), with further training and an average of five years’ work experience bringing this figure up to approximate annual average of £50,000 (~$71,130).

What you’ll need: To become a management consultant you’ll need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree and may have to show evidence of leadership and business experience. Although no particular subject is essential, employers may look favorably upon graduates of business, economics, finance, mathematics, engineering and natural sciences, due to the wide-range of analytical skills typically gained within these subjects.

If you’re interested in undertaking a career in any of the roles listed above, consider enrolling on a related undergraduate degree program to get the best start to fulfilling your ambition. You can find out more at the QS World University Tour.

This article was originally published in September 2014. It was updated in April 2018.

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