Employment outlook for bachelor's-level occupations
Author: Elka Torpey | Posted on: December 09, 2019
Elka Torpey | April 2018
What’s the outlook in occupations that typically require a bachelor’s degree to enter? Which of those occupations are projected to have many openings? How much do they pay? U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data can answer these questions.
This article examines selected occupations in which a bachelor's degree is typically required to enter them. It highlights wages and projected openings in these "bachelor's-level" occupations.
Business
Workers in business occupations help organizations operate from day to day. Among the occupations in chart 1, market research analysts and marketing specialists is projected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 1. Business occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Market research analysts and marketing specialists |
77,100 |
595,400 |
$63,230 |
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Human resources specialists |
57,600 |
547,800 |
60,350 |
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Compliance officers(1) |
25,900 |
288,300 |
67,870 |
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Cost estimators(1) |
24,400 |
217,900 |
63,110 |
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Logisticians |
15,600 |
148,700 |
74,590 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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In addition to typically requiring a bachelor’s degree for entry, two occupations in chart 1 require on-the-job training for workers to become competent. Wages for logisticians were highest of the occupations in the chart.
Community and social service
The work of occupations in community and social service involves helping people overcome problems or improve their lives. Fewer openings are projected to arise in these occupations than in some other fields. Of the occupations in chart 2, child, family, and school social workers is projected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 2. Community and social service occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Child, family, and school social workers |
38,300 |
317,600 |
$44,380 |
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Clergy(1) |
29,200 |
243,900 |
47,100 |
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Community and social service specialists, all other |
14,100 |
100,300 |
41,570 |
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Health educators |
8,700 |
61,000 |
53,940 |
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Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists(2) |
8,300 |
91,300 |
51,410 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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(2) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires short-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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Workers in some of these occupations may need additional credentials, such as a license or certification. The occupations in chart 2 are among the lowest paid of the bachelor’s-level occupations; however, each still had a wage above the median wage for all occupations.
Engineering and architecture
Workers in engineering and architecture occupations use math or science to design and develop structures, products, and systems. Of the occupations in chart 3, civil engineers is projected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 3. Engineering and architecture occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Civil engineers |
25,900 |
303,500 |
$84,770 |
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Mechanical engineers |
21,200 |
288,800 |
85,880 |
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Industrial engineers |
19,700 |
257,900 |
85,880 |
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Electrical engineers |
13,900 |
188,300 |
95,060 |
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Architects, except landscape and naval(1) |
9,700 |
128,800 |
78,470 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires an internship for workers to attain competency. |
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Licensing may be required for some of these workers. Wages for the occupations shown in chart 3 were higher than the median wage for bachelor’s-level occupations—and more than twice the median wage for all occupations.
Financial
Financial occupations, including those in chart 4, involve offering analysis, advice, or other help in managing money. Accountants and auditors stand out among the other occupations in chart 4 for the most projected openings annually, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 4. Financial occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Accountants and auditors |
141,800 |
1,397,700 |
$69,350 |
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Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents(1) |
38,000 |
375,700 |
63,780 |
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Loan officers(1) |
30,400 |
318,600 |
64,660 |
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Financial analysts |
29,000 |
296,100 |
84,300 |
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Personal financial advisors(2) |
25,500 |
271,900 |
90,640 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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(2) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires long-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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Some financial occupations require licensing. On-the-job training, which workers receive after being hired, may be required in addition to a degree. Personal financial advisors had the highest median annual wage among occupations in chart 4.
Healthcare and science
Workers in healthcare and science occupations use a variety of disciplines to conduct research, perform tests, or provide care. Projected openings for registered nurses—more than 200,000 each year, on average, from 2016 to 2026—dwarf those in the other occupations in chart 5.
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Chart 5. Healthcare and science occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Registered nurses |
203,700 |
2,955,200 |
$70,000 |
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Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products(1) |
37,000 |
343,600 |
78,830 |
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Environmental scientists and specialists, including health |
9,500 |
89,500 |
69,400 |
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Biological technicians |
8,900 |
82,100 |
43,800 |
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Chemists |
8,600 |
88,300 |
74,740 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires moderate-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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Some healthcare occupations require a license in addition to education. Two occupations in chart 5 had a wage that was above the median for bachelor’s-level occupations; the others had wages that were higher than the median wage for all occupations.
Information technology
Workers who provide information technology (IT) services help organizations and individuals to develop and maintain computer systems, networks, or software. Of the occupations in chart 6, applications software developers is expected to have the most openings each year, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 6. Information technology occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Software developers, applications |
85,700 |
831,300 |
$101,790 |
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Computer systems analysts |
44,900 |
600,500 |
88,270 |
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Software developers, systems software |
32,900 |
425,000 |
107,600 |
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Network and computer systems administrators |
27,000 |
391,300 |
81,100 |
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Computer programmers |
15,500 |
294,900 |
82,240 |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry or on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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In addition to having a degree, some workers may benefit from getting IT certifications. Median wages for all of the occupations in chart 6 had wages that were above the median wage for bachelor-level occupations.
Management-related
Most of the occupations in chart 7 are managers who oversee some type of work activity. From 2016 to 2026, the occupation of general and operations managers is projected to have more openings annually, on average, than any occupation in this article.
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Chart 7. Management-related occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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General and operations managers(1) |
210,700 |
2,263,100 |
$100,410 |
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Management analysts(2) |
83,900 |
806,400 |
82,450 |
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Financial managers(1) |
56,900 |
580,400 |
125,080 |
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Medical and health services managers(2) |
36,700 |
352,200 |
98,350 |
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Sales managers(2) |
36,300 |
385,500 |
121,060 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(2) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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At the entry level, managers typically need work experience in a related occupation. The skill these workers have gained is reflected in their pay: Median wages in 2017 were among the highest of the occupations in this article.
Sports, communication, and design
Workers in sports, communication, and design occupations entertain or inform others, often in creative ways. Of the occupations in chart 8, coaches and scouts is projected to have the most openings per year, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 8. Sports, communications, and design occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Coaches and scouts |
42,100 |
276,100 |
$32,270 |
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Public relations specialists |
28,200 |
259,600 |
59,300 |
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Graphic designers |
26,000 |
266,300 |
48,700 |
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Writers and authors(1) |
12,600 |
131,200 |
61,820 |
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Interpreters and translators |
7,800 |
68,200 |
47,190 |
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Footnotes: |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry. |
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(1) In addition to a bachelor's degree, this occupation typically requires long-term on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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As mentioned previously, wages in these charts exclude those for self-employed workers. And some of the occupations in chart 8 had a higher percentage of self-employed workers than other bachelor’s-level occupations.
Teaching
Teachers use a variety of methods and tools for instructing students. Of the occupations in chart 9, elementary school teachers is projected to have the most openings annually, on average, from 2016 to 2026.
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Chart 9. Teaching occupations, selected* |
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Occupation |
Occupational openings, 2016–26 annual average |
Employment, 2016 |
Median annual wage, 2017 |
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Elementary school teachers, except special education |
112,800 |
1,410,900 |
$57,160 |
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Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education |
79,500 |
1,018,700 |
59,170 |
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Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education |
50,500 |
630,300 |
57,720 |
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Kindergarten teachers, except special education |
16,700 |
154,400 |
54,230 |
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Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school |
15,000 |
188,900 |
58,600 |
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Note: None of these occupations typically requires work experience in a related occupation for entry or on-the-job training for workers to attain competency. |
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To work in public schools, teachers need a license in addition to a degree. All but one occupation in chart 9, kindergarten teachers, had wages that were at least 50 percent more than the median wage for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections.
https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/article/bachelors-degree-outlook.htm#Healthcare%20and%20science