Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Felons With a Degree

A felony conviction closes some career paths, but it doesn't close nearly as many as most people assume, particularly for graduates who already hold a degree. This list focuses on high-paying careers where hiring decisions are typically made by individual employers rather than a state licensing board, since that distinction matters enormously for how realistic a given career path actually is with a record.

This article breaks down 10 of those careers, ranked from highest to lowest median salary. It intentionally leaves out several classic high-paying degree fields, including nursing, law, pharmacy, and accounting requiring CPA licensure, since those professions involve state licensing boards that review felony convictions individually and can deny, suspend, or revoke a license depending on the offense, the state, and how much time has passed. This list focuses instead on careers where a degree and a strong track record genuinely open doors.

Salary Disclaimer: The salary ranges provided in this article are estimates based on national averages. Actual earnings may vary depending on location, employer, level of experience, and industry demand.

Why These Careers Are More Accessible With a Felony Record

The biggest factor separating an accessible career from a difficult one isn't the pay level; it's who controls the hiring decision. Careers on this list are governed by individual employers, who increasingly evaluate candidates using "ban the box" policies, delayed background checks, and case-by-case judgment, rather than a state licensing board with statutory authority to deny a credential based on a criminal record. That distinction matters more than almost anything else when it comes to realistically planning a career path.

Industry also plays a real role. Technology, construction, sales, and logistics companies have historically faced labor shortages that make many employers more willing to look past a record when a candidate has relevant skills and a genuine track record of reliability. Fields tied to state-issued professional licenses, particularly in healthcare, law, and financial services, tend to be considerably more restrictive, which is why this list is intentionally built around fields where that licensing barrier doesn't exist or is comparatively easier to navigate.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Felons With a Degree

The careers below are ranked from highest to lowest median salary, based on the most current data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each entry notes any relevant background check or licensing considerations specific to that field.

1. Computer and Information Systems Manager

A computer science or information systems degree, combined with several years of hands-on IT experience, prepares graduates for this leadership role overseeing an organization's technology operations. Tech companies generally don't require a professional license for this role, so hiring decisions rest with individual employers rather than a state board.

Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities within an organization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information systems managers earned a median annual wage of $175,140, the highest figure on this list. Building a strong technical portfolio and track record in individual contributor roles first can help offset employer hesitation tied to a background check.

2. Marketing Manager

A marketing or business degree builds the strategic and creative skills this role requires, and marketing is not a licensed profession in any state, meaning hiring decisions rest entirely with individual employers. Most marketing managers reach this level after several years of hands-on campaign experience in a more junior marketing role.

Marketing managers estimate demand, develop pricing strategies, and identify potential markets for an organization's products or services. Marketing managers earned a median annual wage of $166,790, according to the most recent data. A strong portfolio of past campaign results can carry real weight with employers, sometimes more than a clean background check alone.

3. Human Resources Manager

A human resources or business degree prepares graduates for this role overseeing hiring, benefits, and workplace policy, and while HR itself isn't a licensed profession, some employers apply extra scrutiny to HR candidates given the role's access to sensitive employee data. Professional certification through an organization like the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) can help demonstrate credibility alongside a degree.

HR managers oversee hiring, benefits, and workplace policy for their organizations. Human resources managers earned a median annual wage of $149,280, according to recent data. Starting in a generalist or specialist HR role and building a track record before pursuing a management position tends to smooth the path into this career.

4. Sales Manager

A business or marketing degree provides a foundation for this role, though sales is one of the most performance-driven fields on this list, meaning demonstrated results often matter more to employers than a clean background check. Many sales managers are promoted from within after a strong individual sales record, which gives candidates with a record a real opportunity to prove themselves before reaching a leadership role.

Sales managers recruit, train, and direct sales teams toward revenue targets. Sales managers earned a median annual wage of $148,270, according to the most recent data. Commission-based entry-level sales roles are also generally more accessible than salaried positions, offering a practical starting point toward this career.

5. Software Developer

A computer science degree builds the technical foundation for this career, and software development is widely regarded as one of the more background-check-friendly fields available to degree holders, particularly at startups and mid-sized tech companies. A strong coding portfolio or contributions to open-source projects can carry significant weight with employers, sometimes outweighing concerns about a record entirely.

Software developers design, build, and test computer applications and systems. Software developers earned a median annual wage of $135,980, according to the most recent data. Remote and freelance software development work also offers a path that sidesteps some employer background check processes altogether.

6. Construction Manager

A construction management or civil engineering degree, often combined with hands-on trade experience, prepares graduates to plan, coordinate, and supervise construction projects. Construction management generally doesn't require a state professional license the way engineering does, and the broader construction industry has a well-documented history of being open to hiring people with records.

Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. Construction managers earned a median annual wage of $114,990, according to the most recent data. Many construction managers build their career by starting in a trade or as a site supervisor before moving into full project management.

7. Project Management Specialist

A business, construction management, or engineering degree, sometimes paired with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, prepares graduates to plan and oversee projects across nearly any industry. This role exists in construction, IT, manufacturing, and other sectors, and isn't tied to a specific state license.

Project management specialists plan and coordinate an organization's projects to make sure they finish on time and within budget. Project management specialists earned an average annual wage of $110,740, according to the most recent data. This role's broad applicability across industries gives candidates with a record real flexibility in where they build their career.

8. Management Analyst

A business or liberal arts degree with strong analytical skills prepares graduates for this role, which focuses on identifying inefficiencies and recommending organizational improvements as internal staff or an outside consultant. This field isn't licensed, and many management analysts enter directly from a bachelor's degree.

Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization's efficiency, working across nearly every industry. Management analysts earned a median annual wage of $101,860, according to the most recent data. This field also shows strong projected growth, giving candidates with a record a genuinely expanding pool of opportunities.

9. Accountant

An accounting degree prepares graduates for staff and senior accountant roles handling bookkeeping, financial reporting, and budget analysis, work that generally doesn't require a professional license the way public accounting does. It's worth being clear about an important distinction here: becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) involves a state licensing board that reviews felony convictions individually, and some states impose real restrictions, but the CPA credential isn't required for the large majority of accounting jobs.

Accountants and auditors examine financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations. Accountants and auditors earned a median annual wage of $83,680, according to the most recent data, though this figure includes both CPA and non-CPA roles. Targeting corporate or private-sector accounting roles, rather than public accounting firms that require CPA licensure, generally offers the more accessible path.

10. Real Estate Broker

A background in business or a related field, combined with real estate licensing coursework, prepares graduates for this career, which does require a state-issued license. This is the one licensed profession on this list, but real estate licensing boards in most states review felony convictions on a case-by-case basis with waiting periods, rather than issuing an automatic, permanent bar the way some healthcare and legal licensing boards do.

Real estate brokers manage real estate transactions and oversee agents working under them. Real estate brokers earned a median annual wage of $73,220, the lowest figure on this list. Starting as a real estate sales agent first, then working toward a broker's license after establishing a track record, is generally the more realistic path for someone with a record.

How We Rank These Careers

To create this list, we review current occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics alongside documented hiring practices and licensing requirements for each field. Because accessibility matters as much as pay for this list, we specifically excluded fields with well-documented, restrictive state licensing barriers for felony convictions.

• Salary potential: Careers are ranked using the median annual wage for the role, based on the latest available data.
• Licensing accessibility: We prioritize careers that don't require a state professional license, or where licensing boards are documented as reviewing felony convictions case-by-case rather than imposing automatic, permanent bars.
• Employer hiring practices: We weigh documented industry trends around background check practices and fair-chance hiring.
• Career alignment: Each career is matched to a realistic path for a degree holder with a record, rather than a best-case scenario.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Understanding Background Checks and Licensing Barriers

How a criminal record affects a job search depends enormously on three factors: the type of conviction, how much time has passed, and whether the target career requires a state-issued professional license. Violent offenses and crimes involving fraud, theft, or harm to vulnerable people tend to draw more scrutiny across nearly every field, while older convictions and non-violent offenses are generally viewed more favorably, especially once several years have passed without further legal trouble.

"Ban the box" laws, now in place in most states and many cities, restrict when an employer can ask about criminal history during the hiring process, typically pushing that question later in the process so candidates get a fair chance to be evaluated on their qualifications first. Expungement or record sealing, where available in your state, can also meaningfully change what a routine employer background check reveals, though some licensing boards and government agencies can still access sealed records through fingerprint-based checks even when a private employer cannot. Consulting a reentry-focused legal aid organization about your specific state's rules is worth doing before committing significant time or money to a specific career path.

How Long Does It Take to Reach These Careers

Most bachelor's degrees on this list take about four years of full-time study, and none of the careers here require the additional graduate schooling that fields like law or medicine do. That said, reaching the salary figures listed above typically requires several years of hands-on experience in a more junior role first, particularly for management-level careers like marketing manager and sales manager.

For people currently incarcerated or recently released, completing a degree program, whether through a prison education program, community college, or online university, before entering the job market can meaningfully strengthen a job search. Building a portfolio, certifications, or freelance work history during this period can also help offset employer hesitation once you start applying.

How Much Does a Degree in These Fields Cost

Degrees in these fields generally range from about $30,000 to $100,000 in total tuition for a bachelor's degree at a public university, with community college transfer pathways often reducing that cost significantly. Several fields on this list, particularly business, accounting, and computer science, are widely available at affordable public and online institutions.

Second Chance Pell, a federal program that restores Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students, has expanded significantly in recent years and now funds degree programs at correctional facilities nationwide. Comparing total program cost, and researching which schools participate in prison education partnerships if you're currently incarcerated, will give you a clearer sense of what a specific path will actually cost.

Financial Aid for These Degrees

Students pursuing these degrees, including those currently incarcerated or recently released, have access to a range of financial aid options. Understanding what's available can meaningfully reduce how much a degree costs out of pocket.

• Federal financial aid: Completing the FAFSA opens the door to federal grants, work-study, and Direct Unsubsidized Loans for eligible students, including many people with a felony record, since a conviction alone generally doesn't disqualify someone from federal aid.
• Second Chance Pell: This federal program restores Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students at participating institutions, covering tuition for degree programs completed during incarceration.
• Reentry-focused scholarships: Several nonprofit organizations offer scholarships specifically for formerly incarcerated students pursuing a degree.
• Workforce development grants: State workforce agencies frequently offer grants or vouchers for high-demand fields like construction management and IT, sometimes specifically targeted at justice-involved individuals.
• Employer tuition reimbursement: Some fair-chance employers, particularly in construction and logistics, offer tuition assistance for employees pursuing a relevant degree while working.

How to Choose the Right Career for You

With 10 accessible, well-paying careers to choose from, narrowing down the right one comes down to matching the career to your interests, your specific record, and the state you plan to work in. The considerations below can help guide that decision.

Your Specific Conviction and State

Licensing and background check outcomes vary enormously by state and by the specific nature of a conviction, so what's true for one person may not apply to another. Researching your specific state's rules, and consulting a reentry-focused legal aid organization when possible, is worth doing before committing to a specific career path.

Employer Reputation for Fair-Chance Hiring

Some companies, particularly larger employers in tech, logistics, and construction, have publicly documented fair-chance hiring commitments, while others evaluate candidates on a purely case-by-case basis. Researching a target employer's specific hiring practices, rather than assuming an entire industry is uniformly open or closed, will give you a more realistic picture.

Self-Employment as an Alternative Path

Several careers on this list, particularly marketing, accounting, and software development, can also be pursued through freelance work or starting your own business, which sidesteps the employer background check process entirely. This path requires more upfront hustle to build a client base, but it removes one of the biggest variables that complicates traditional employment for many people with a record.

Timing of Disclosure

Most fair-chance employers and ban-the-box laws push the background check question later in the hiring process, giving you a chance to be evaluated on your qualifications first. Preparing a clear, honest, and brief way to discuss your record, focused on what you've done since, tends to serve candidates better than either avoiding the topic or over-explaining it.

Job Growth for These Careers

Job growth varies considerably across this list, and it's worth weighing alongside salary since strong pay means less if a field isn't adding new positions. Computer and information systems management, management analysis, and construction management all show particularly strong projected growth, reflecting steady demand across technology and infrastructure.

Real estate shows the most modest projected growth on this list, and it's also the one career here that involves a state license, which is worth weighing together when considering that path. None of this rules out any career on this list, but it's worth researching both growth and accessibility together when planning a long-term path.

FAQs About High-Paying Jobs for Felons With a Degree

These are some of the questions people ask most often when researching high-paying careers with a felony record. Use them as a starting point for your own research into the careers that interest you most.

Why Aren't Nursing, Law, or Pharmacy on This List?

These fields involve state licensing boards that review felony convictions on a case-by-case basis, and depending on the state and the offense, a conviction can result in automatic denial or a lengthy, uncertain review process. It's not that these fields are entirely closed to everyone with a record, but the outcome depends so heavily on individual circumstances that including them on a general "highest-paying" list risked setting unrealistic expectations.

Does Expungement Guarantee I'll Pass a Background Check?

Not entirely. Expungement or record sealing generally removes a conviction from what a standard employer background check will show, but some government agencies, licensing boards, and positions requiring a fingerprint-based federal check can still access sealed records in certain circumstances. Understanding your specific state's expungement rules, and what a specific employer or license actually checks, is worth researching directly.

Should I Disclose My Record Before an Employer Asks?

Generally, no, particularly in states with ban-the-box protections that legally restrict when an employer can ask about criminal history. That said, being prepared with a brief, honest explanation for when the topic does come up tends to serve candidates better than seeming evasive or unprepared.

Can a Felony Conviction Affect Financial Aid Eligibility?

For most people, no. A felony conviction alone generally doesn't disqualify someone from federal financial aid, though a drug-related conviction that occurred while receiving federal aid can, in some cases, temporarily affect eligibility. Completing the FAFSA and speaking with a school's financial aid office directly is the most reliable way to understand your specific situation.

Is Starting a Business a Realistic Alternative to Traditional Employment?

Yes, and it's a path many people with a record pursue successfully, since self-employment sidesteps the employer background check process entirely. Fields like marketing, accounting, software development, and construction on this list all translate reasonably well into freelance work or a small business, though building a client base takes real time and effort upfront.

Explore Degree Programs for These High-Paying Careers

Browse programs through Learn.org to find degree options, including online and prison education programs, that can support a realistic path into these fields. Whichever career you choose from this list, a degree combined with a clear-eyed understanding of your specific situation can open real doors.