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Highest Paying Jobs With a Graduate Degree

Highest Paying Jobs With A Graduate Degree

Higher education leads to higher salaries for many types of workers. For some Americans who decide to pursue graduate degrees, additional education can be a key to unlocking higher salaries in a variety of high-skill fields. Approximately 13% of American adults aged 25 or older hold a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree.

In this study, AdvisorSmith examines the highest-paying jobs for graduate degree holders based upon the annual median income for each job. We determined which jobs required a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree by examining the percentage of workers in the field who hold a graduate degree of any kind. We selected fields where over 40% of workers have a graduate, doctoral, or professional degree.

Our study found that the highest-paying jobs for graduate degree holders were primarily in health care professions, with these jobs taking over half of the top 25 spots. Other fields that also had high pay included law, scientific professions including computing and math, and political science and economics.

The median annual salary for workers with a master’s degree was $77,844, while professional degree holders earned a median salary of $96,772, and doctoral degree holders earned a median annual salary of $97,916.

Below, we list the top 25 highest-paying jobs for graduate degree holders in the United States.

Top 25 Highest Paying Jobs With a Graduate Degree

1. Specialist Physicians
BLS Category: Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Annual Median Salary: $206,500
Total Jobs: 390,680
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 97.7%

Medical specialists had the highest median salaries for workers with graduate degrees. Virtually all of these doctors had a graduate degree, as medical school is required graduate study for almost all doctors. With the United States spending over 17% of GDP on healthcare, and specialized medical care in high demand in the country, specialized doctors were the highest-paid profession among graduate degree holders.

2. Family Medicine Physicians
Annual Median Salary: $205,590
Total Jobs: 109,370
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 97.7%

Family medicine physicians also earned high salaries. These doctors treat adults and children and are the backbone of the primary care workforce in the United States. Whether we have a cold or an ankle sprain, oftentimes, we look to family medicine physicians first. Like all doctors, family medicine physicians are required to attend medical school, followed by a multi-year residency.

3. Internal Medicine Physicians
BLS Category: General Internal Medicine Physicians
Annual Median Salary: $201,590
Total Jobs: 44,610
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 97.7%

Internal medicine physicians typically treat adults and also serve as the point of primary care for the health needs of Americans. These physicians undergo similar training to family medicine physicians, with four years of medical school and multiple years of residency.

4. Pediatricians
BLS Category: Pediatricians, General
Annual Median Salary: $175,310
Total Jobs: 29,740
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 97.7%

Pediatricians specialize in the health care of children and undergo similar training to family medicine and internal medicine doctors, but focused on the health needs of those under age 18. Many people with children prefer to take their children to see pediatricians. While still highly paid, pediatricians earn a significantly lower median salary than family or internal medicine practitioners.

5. Nurse Anesthetists
Annual Median Salary: $174,790
Total Jobs: 43,570
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 85.4%

Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia to patients usually during surgical or other medical procedures. To perform this job, a nurse anesthetist needs to be certified and usually must hold either a master’s degree or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. In many states, nurse anesthetists must work under the supervision of a medical doctor or anesthesiologist, but in a few states, they are allowed to practice independently.

6. General Dentists
BLS Category: Dentists, General
Annual Median Salary: $155,600
Total Jobs: 110,730
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 100.0%

General dentists help keep our teeth healthy. Besides cleaning and diagnostic examinations, dentists also perform procedures such as filling cavities, root canals, and extracting diseased teeth. With oral health linked closely to overall bodily health, dentists play an important role in our overall health. Dentists need to attend four years at an accredited dental school and then become licensed by their state.

7. Specialty Dentists
BLS Category: Dentists, All Other Specialists
Annual Median Salary: $147,220
Total Jobs: 5,330
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 100.0%

Dental specialists are also considered to have a high paying job that requires graduate training. Like general dentists, specialty dentists must attend four years of dental school and be licensed. In addition, they may attend an optional residency program after graduation for specialized fields.

8. Judges
BLS Category: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Annual Median Salary: $136,910
Total Jobs: 28,670
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 93.0%

Judges are legal professionals that generally work for local, state, and federal governments. In this role, they adjudicate court cases and provide judgements. Judges can work in civil or criminal courts. In most cases, judges are required to be lawyers, which means that they have attended law school and have passed the bar exam. However, in some states and jurisdictions, nonlawyers are able to become judges.

9. Natural Sciences Managers
Annual Median Salary: $129,100
Total Jobs: 67,720
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 58.3%

Natural sciences managers are managers in fields such as life sciences, physical sciences, math, and statistics who oversee the work of teams of scientists. They can work for private companies such as pharmaceutical companies, or research laboratories. These managers usually have a background in the scientific field in which they work, and they are responsible for guiding and coordinating the process of scientific research and development.

10. Pharmacists
Annual Median Salary: $128,090
Total Jobs: 311,200
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 66.5%

Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing drugs prescribed by other health practitioners such as doctors and nurse practitioners. They also inform patients about how to use their medication and any side effects that medication may cause. Another important role of pharmacists is to ensure that the interactions between multiple drugs that patients may be taking are safe.

11. Podiatrists
Annual Median Salary: $126,240
Total Jobs: 9,770
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 100.0%

Podiatrists are doctors that specialize in the treatment of the foot and ankles. Podiatrists hold the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, which is focused on the treatment of the foot and ankles, and also are trained in surgical procedures on the feet. Podiatrists, similarly to medical doctors, study for four years at medical school and have subsequent multi-year residencies.

12. Lawyers
Annual Median Salary: $122,960
Total Jobs: 657,170
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 93.0%

Lawyers are professionals who assist clients with the law. This may include representing clients in court, drafting legal documents, advising on transactions, and providing advice on managing legal risks. Becoming a lawyer requires three years of law school followed by passing a state bar examination in order to be licensed to practice law in a state. Lawyers hold the most common profession in the top 25 highest paid professions for workers with graduate degrees.

13. Physicists
Annual Median Salary: $122,850
Total Jobs: 16,730
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 76.3%

Physicists conduct research in physics and develop theories about how the physical world works using experiments and observations. Physicists can work for academic or governmental research organizations such as the Department of Energy, labs in universities, or corporations doing research on materials such as lasers or semiconductors. Over 75% of physicists have a graduate degree.

14. Computer and Information Research Scientists
Annual Median Salary: $122,840
Total Jobs: 30,780
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 59.3%

Computer research scientists conduct fundamental research in computer science to create new innovations. Research scientists are at the forefront of creating new knowledge and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with computer algorithms. While being a software engineer doesn’t necessarily require graduate-level education, doing computer and information research frequently does, as almost 60% of the workers in this role have a graduate degree.

15. Political Scientists
Annual Median Salary: $122,220
Total Jobs: 6,010
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 53.6%

Political scientists study the political systems in the United States and in other countries. They are often employed by government and academic institutions to study topics such as political decision-making and public option and the structure of government. Given the importance of politics in terms of the daily lives that citizens lead, political scientists are highly paid, although the absolute number of workers in this field is small.

16. Optometrists
Annual Median Salary: $115,250
Total Jobs: 39,420
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 100.0%

Optometrists are responsible for providing vision correction services to their clients, such as glasses or contact lenses. Additionally, optometrists can diagnose and detect diseases of the eye and can also prescribe some drugs to treat some eye conditions. Optometrists are required to attend four-year Doctor of Optometry programs, and many also choose to do a one-year optional residency program after graduation. Optometrists must pass a board exam to become licensed to practice.

17. Astronomers
Annual Median Salary: $114,590
Total Jobs: 2,070
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 76.3%

Astronomers study space, stars, planets, and other phenomena outside of our planet. Most astronomers work for academic institutions such as universities, observatories, space institutes, or research institutes. The majority of astronomers have doctoral degrees in astronomy or physics.

18. College and University Law Teachers
BLS Category: Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Annual Median Salary: $113,530
Total Jobs: 16,180
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 76.8%

Law professors teach students about the law. Law professors are responsible for teaching and research, and they generally work at universities with law schools. The vast majority of law professors are lawyers, although some teachers in specialty areas may not necessarily be lawyers themselves.

19. Physician Assistants
Annual Median Salary: $112,260
Total Jobs: 120,090
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 78.0%

Physician assistants are health care professionals who provide primary care to individuals under the supervision of a physician. Many of the tasks that a family medicine doctor or internal medicine doctor performs can also be performed by a physician assistant, such as physical examinations, diagnosis of illnesses, and in some cases, prescribing drugs. Physician assistants usually require 1,000 or more hours of health care or patient care experience, along with two years of physician assistant school. After graduating, physician assistants are required to pass a certification exam.

20. Physical Scientists
BLS Category: Physical Scientists, All Other
Annual Median Salary: $109,910
Total Jobs: 17,550
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 72.8%

Physical scientists conduct research into the physical world. This job classification includes those that do research into sensing data about the physical world, such as managing natural resources, urban planning, or security. The majority of these scientists hold a graduate degree.

21. Nurse Practitioners
Annual Median Salary: $109,820
Total Jobs: 200,600
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 91.5%

Nurse practitioners are health care professionals who are independently licensed and also provide primary care to individuals. Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, and perform some of the tasks traditionally done by doctors. Nurse practitioners follow more of a disease prevention approach which includes health education as compared with the medical model, which is more disease-centered. To become a nurse practitioner, nurses must first become registered nurses and then earn a master’s degree in nursing. Some schools also offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as well. Nurses must also earn an Advanced Practice Nursing License to practice as a nurse practitioner.

22. Mathematicians
Annual Median Salary: $105,030
Total Jobs: 2,630
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 61.3%

Mathematicians conduct research on new discoveries in mathematics or apply mathematical theory to other disciplines like science or business. Most mathematicians work for academic institutions or research institutions. The majority of mathematicians hold a graduate degree.

23. Nurse Midwives
Annual Median Salary: $105,030
Total Jobs: 6,930
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 91.5%

Nurse midwives are licensed nurses who provide and help coordinate health care during the birthing process. In addition to the birth process, nurse midwives also provide education and health promotion services, and they can also conduct examinations and provide diagnosis and treatment. They can work in private practice, at hospitals, birth centers, health clinics, or in-home births. Generally, nurse midwives earn either a master’s degree in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

24. Economists
Annual Median Salary: $105,020
Total Jobs: 19,000
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 75.2%

Economists study the workings of the economy and prepare reports or plans. Economists use statistical techniques to evaluate and process economic data. Economists can work for academic institutions, government departments, or financial institutions. Most professional economists have master’s or doctoral degrees in economics.

25. College and University Economics Teachers
BLS Category: Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Annual Median Salary: $104,370
Total Jobs: 13,270
Percent of Workers with a Graduate or Professional Degree: 76.8%

Economics professors generally research and teach economics at academic institutions such as universities. Most economics teachers at the college and university level have either a master’s or doctoral degree in economics.

Top 100 Highest Paying Jobs with a Graduate, Professional, or Doctorate Degree

The table below lists the top 100 highest-paying jobs for workers with a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree. Additionally, we list the number of jobs nationwide for each job classification, the annual median income for the job, and the percentage of workers in the field who hold a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree.

RankJob TitleTotal JobsAnnual Median Salary% of Workers with Graduate or Professional Degree
1Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric 390,680 $206,500 97.7%
2Family Medicine Physicians 109,370 $205,590 97.7%
3General Internal Medicine Physicians 44,610 $201,590 97.7%
4Pediatricians, General 29,740 $175,310 97.7%
5Nurse Anesthetists 43,570 $174,790 85.4%
6Dentists, General 110,730 $155,600 100.0%
7Dentists, All Other Specialists 5,330 $147,220 100.0%
8Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates 28,670 $136,910 93.0%
9Natural Sciences Managers 67,720 $129,100 58.3%
10Pharmacists 311,200 $128,090 66.5%
11Podiatrists 9,770 $126,240 100.0%
12Lawyers 657,170 $122,960 93.0%
13Physicists 16,730 $122,850 76.3%
14Computer and Information Research Scientists 30,780 $122,840 59.3%
15Political Scientists 6,010 $122,220 53.6%
16Optometrists 39,420 $115,250 100.0%
17Astronomers 2,070 $114,590 76.3%
18Law Teachers, Postsecondary 16,180 $113,530 76.8%
19Physician Assistants 120,090 $112,260 78.0%
20Physical Scientists, All Other 17,550 $109,910 72.8%
21Nurse Practitioners 200,600 $109,820 91.5%
22Mathematicians 2,630 $105,030 61.3%
23Nurse Midwives 6,930 $105,030 91.5%
24Economists 19,000 $105,020 75.2%
25Economics Teachers, Postsecondary 13,270 $104,370 76.8%
26Psychologists, All Other 14,220 $101,790 92.3%
27Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 36,080 $101,010 76.8%
28Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers 14,380 $97,870 93.0%
29Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 201,920 $97,320 76.8%
30Materials Scientists 6,710 $96,810 41.5%
31Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 271,020 $96,400 57.3%
32Veterinarians 74,540 $95,460 100.0%
33Education Administrators, Postsecondary 144,880 $95,410 57.3%
34Atmospheric and Space Scientists 9,290 $95,380 41.1%
35Biochemists and Biophysicists 31,360 $94,490 54.0%
36Data Scientists and Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other 30,810 $94,280 61.3%
37Industrial-Organizational Psychologists630 $92,880 92.3%
38Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers 29,200 $92,040 49.2%
39Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 11,020 $92,040 76.8%
40Statisticians 39,090 $91,160 61.3%
41Physics Teachers, Postsecondary 13,780 $89,590 76.8%
42Physical Therapists 233,350 $89,440 64.0%
43Environmental Engineers 53,150 $88,860 40.3%
44Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 127,180 $88,790 73.9%
45Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary 6,780 $87,900 76.8%
46Business Teachers, Postsecondary 83,920 $87,200 76.8%
47Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary 5,850 $86,220 76.8%
48Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary 15,750 $85,930 76.8%
49Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary 1,770 $85,450 76.8%
50Education Administrators, All Other 44,550 $85,450 57.3%
51Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 31,800 $85,180 76.8%
52Occupational Therapists 133,570 $84,950 53.3%
53Sociologists 2,630 $83,420 53.6%
54Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 33,690 $83,330 53.6%
55Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary 53,090 $83,300 76.8%
56Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 9,470 $83,260 76.8%
57Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary 6,060 $82,430 76.8%
58Biological Scientists, All Other 40,100 $82,220 54.0%
59Geographers 1,400 $81,540 53.6%
60Hydrologists 6,440 $81,270 49.2%
61Architects, Except Landscape and Naval 105,850 $80,750 42.8%
62Geography Teachers, Postsecondary 3,970 $80,520 76.8%
63Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary 21,380 $79,550 76.8%
64Speech-Language Pathologists 154,360 $79,120 87.3%
65Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists 113,270 $78,200 92.3%
66Chemists 83,530 $77,630 41.5%
67Audiologists 13,590 $77,600 86.5%
68Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 10,600 $77,070 76.8%
69Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 37,480 $76,620 76.8%
70Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 2,150 $76,480 76.8%
71Life Scientists, All Other 6,450 $75,910 73.9%
72Microbiologists 18,270 $75,650 54.0%
73Acupuncturists and Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other 36,500 $75,640 65.3%
74Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary 13,850 $75,290 76.8%
75Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary 23,490 $75,240 76.8%
76History Teachers, Postsecondary 21,030 $75,170 76.8%
77Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 59,680 $74,600 76.8%
78Urban and Regional Planners 38,560 $74,350 57.7%
79Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary 51,150 $73,690 76.8%
80Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary 13,640 $72,070 76.8%
81Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other 16,830 $71,530 76.8%
82Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary 4,390 $71,410 76.8%
83Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 84,290 $71,360 49.2%
84Epidemiologists 7,410 $70,990 73.9%
85Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 29,120 $70,630 76.8%
86Chiropractors 35,010 $70,340 91.7%
87Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 24,860 $69,990 76.8%
88Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 94,060 $69,530 76.8%
89Landscape Architects 20,280 $69,360 42.8%
90Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 201,320 $68,970 76.8%
91Food Scientists and Technologists 13,460 $68,970 45.5%
92English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 67,930 $68,490 76.8%
93Instructional Coordinators 176,690 $66,290 51.3%
94Education Teachers, Postsecondary 61,300 $65,510 76.8%
95Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 15,880 $64,380 76.8%
96Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators 6,090 $63,930 93.0%
97Historians 3,040 $63,680 53.6%
98Anthropologists and Archeologists 6,720 $63,670 53.6%
99Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 19,250 $63,270 54.0%
100Soil and Plant Scientists 14,150 $63,200 45.5%

Methodology

This study examined the highest-paying jobs in which a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree is required. To identify jobs in which graduate education is necessary, we used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on educational attainment for workers in approximately 800 job categories. The categories listed by the BLS include the following:

To determine jobs that require a graduate degree, we added together the percentage of workers with a master’s degree and the percentage of workers with a doctoral or professional degree for each job. We then selected jobs where 40% or more of workers possessed a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree.

After selecting from these professions, we used salary data from the BLS’s Occupational Employment Statistics to determine the annual median salary for each of the jobs for workers with graduate degrees. We ranked these jobs by the annual median salary to determine the top 25 and top 100 highest paying jobs for workers with a graduate degree.

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Educational attainment for workers 25 years and older by detailed occupation

2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics

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