The 9 highest-paying jobs of 2020 you can get with a bachelor's degree


While high-paying jobs often require multiple advanced degrees and years of study, some jobs paying nearly $100,000 a year or more require just a bachelor's degree, according to the latest ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

The publication's list of the 25 best-paying jobs of 2020 includes nine jobs that require no grad school, just an undergraduate degree. Here they are, along with their median salaries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled by U.S. News.

Keep in mind that even though you may only need a bachelor's and not an advanced degree, certain jobs may require other training or certifications. Pilots, for example, take flight lessons and train for months or even years before being qualified for some licences, while financial advisors need to obtain certain licenses to sell investment products.

9. Financial advisor

Financial advisors help individuals sort out their personal finances, from planning how to fund short- and long-term goals to advising them on paying off debt and helping with investments. Financial advisors can make their money in a variety of ways, from earning commissions to charging for their time.

Median salary: $88,890 per year

8. Business operations manager

Business operations managers go between the various departments of a business and help them work together to achieve the company's goals. They have a hand in a wide range of tasks like hiring, budgeting, and product creation.

Median salary: $100,930 per year

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7. Actuary

Actuaries calculate the cost of risk in a given industry. Health-care actuaries, for instance, assess the cost of risk for their organizations from illnesses or pandemics.

Median salary: $102,880 per year

6. Pilot

Pilots fly planes and helicopters for commercial airlines like Delta and JetBlue, for private individuals, for law enforcement, and for the military.

Median salary: $115,670 per year

5. Sales manager

Sales managers generally lead the sales team of a company, focusing on plans and strategies. They may set sales goals, set quotas, help with hiring and personnel, and train new employees.

Median salary: $124,220 per year

4. Financial manager

Financial managers manage the finances of a company by writing reports, for example, and developing strategies for long-term success.

Median salary: $127,990 per year

3. Marketing manager

Marketing managers build online, print, and other campaigns to spread the word about a company's products and activities. They analyze data around demand for the company's product and coordinate with the sales team to ensure the release of a product and its marketing happen simultaneously.

Median salary: $134,290 per year

2. Petroleum engineer

Petroleum engineers design and develop ways to extract oil and gas from below the Earth's surface. Many of them work for oil and gas companies.

Median salary: $137,170 per year

1. IT manager

IT managers implement a company's tech infrastructure and ensure that everything runs smoothly, from selecting the best computers for the company to making sure the web server's continually running.

Median salary: $142,530 per year

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