5 Top Earning Jobs with a Bachelor's Degree

Today’s top earners are not necessarily adorned with a master's or doctorate degree that was achieved at boasted schools such as Harvard or Yale.

As a matter of fact, thousands of high salaried professionals with a bachelors degree from one of the various traditional brick and mortar colleges, or even an e-learning program, can be found in a wide variety of job positions across a plethora of career fields.

Additionally, bachelors degrees are the most common degrees achieved by professionals, with a grand total of 1,601,000 granted in the year 2008-2009, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

For prospective students who are interested in acquiring their bachelors degree through distance learning, or even current professionals who are seeking to up the ante in the career world and boost their associates degree to the next level, here is a candid glance at the five top earning jobs with a bachelor's degree:

Computer Software Engineers - The fast-paced world of computer software design and development is expected to see a 21% increase in the amount of job opportunities that are available between the year 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of the individuals who are already working in this career field hold a bachelor’s degree in information technology, mathematics or computer science. In May of 2008 the top 10% of computer software engineers were making over $111,450, and with a rapid projected growth of job opportunities for the future, this career field will certainly continue to pay lucratively.
Chief Executives - A popular misconception is that individuals who want to attain a chief executive level position must have their MBA. However, there are plenty of professionals with their bachelor’s degree, and a major in business, earning a three figure salary at the top of the totem pole, as the chief executive, in a diversity of companies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics documented that individuals who worked at the management level for companies and enterprises made a median annual salary of $113,690 in May of 2008. The actual salary amounts that chief executives can earn will vary significantly, depending on several factors, including the amount of years a professional has under their belt, the level of responsibility that they undertake, and the size, nature and location of their place of employment.
Engineering Managers - This is yet another career field that many people assume requires a master’s or doctorate, but many engineering managers are making a rewarding living with their bachelor’s degree and a major in science or engineering. Most of these professionals have worked in the field as engineers, natural science technicians or performing research prior to receiving the opportunity to advance to the supervisory level. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering managers who worked in scientific research and development services were the top earners for this career niche in May of 2008, bringing home an average salary of $141,030 per year.
Financial Advisers - Rendering advice for budgeting, investments and financial planning to businesses and individuals can yield an annual salary of over $119,290, and that does not include potential bonuses. For individuals who love to crunch numbers, this is the career to jump into, with a projected job increase of 30% between the years 2008 and 2018. A bachelor's degree with a major in economics, business, finance, mathematics, accounting, or even law would be highly recommended for individuals who are interested in becoming a financial adviser.
Petroleum Engineers - Petroleum will continue to be a major heating and fueling resource as we move into the future, and the individuals who explore for prospective underground oil fields, in addition to devising and preparing every aspect of the process required to extract this oil from its origin, will be highly compensated for their knowledge and expertise. Petroleum engineers with their bachelor's degree can expect to make a salary between $60,879 and $165,368, according to PayScale.com, and this figure does not include bonuses, profit sharing or commissions on work performed. Future job opportunities in this industry are expected to increase by 11% between the year 2008 and 2018, according to the BLS, making it yet another advisable career path to pursue for holders of bachelor's degrees.

Although a master's or a doctorate can increase earning potential and open the doors to more career possibilities, a professional's earning potential will certainly not be limited with the bachelor's degree. Individuals who are interested in pursuing their education through distance learning could easily achieve their bachelor's degree in four years or less and enter into an extremely gratifying future. Regardless of whether the bachelors degree is earned online through an accredited distance learning program or obtained through traditional college courses, it can unquestionably lead the way to a six-figure salary, in a carefully chosen career field like the top earning jobs listed above.