Highest paying jobs in Colorado Springs that require a graduate degree

Education pays.

At least, that's what Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. Higher degree holders earn more and experience lower unemployment rates than those without degrees or with lesser degrees. On a weekly basis, master's degree holders earn over $500 more than the median for all U.S. workers over age 25, and doctoral degree holders earn about $850 more than that median. Professional degree holders like doctors, lawyers, and veterinarians earn even more, at nearly $870 more than the median.

However, advanced degrees often cost significant funds to obtain. A year of graduate tuition and fees cost about $19,750 for the 2020-21 academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average at private institutions was even more, at $26,620 per year. Some programs offer assistantships or fellowships that offset those costs, but many students will be on the hook for paying or borrowing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Other data from the center, released in July 2023, shows that nearly 3 in 4 graduate students received financial aid in the 2019-20 academic year, in amounts averaging about $25,300.

The catch? Much of the aid doled out to graduate students is in loans. Graduate students who took out loans averaged $26,000, compared to an average of $11,300 in grant funds among recipients. A Center for American Progress analysis found that graduate debt rose from 2010-11 to 2017-18 while undergraduate debt fell, and the share of student debt accumulated by graduate students rose to 40%.

Is the higher pay worth the cost? That's up to prospective graduate students to decide. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying jobs that require a graduate degree in Colorado Springs, painting a clearer picture of the earnings potential. Jobs listed here require a master's, doctorate, or other professional degree and are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2022. Any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

Read on to see what a graduate degree could earn you in Colorado Springs.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.

1 / 50

#50. Education teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 160 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

2 / 50

#49. Chiropractors

- Median annual wage: $51,340
- Median hourly wage: $24.68
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 130 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

3 / 50

#48. Postsecondary teachers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

4 / 50

#47. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors

- Median annual wage: $51,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 790 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

5 / 50

#46. Healthcare social workers

- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 420 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

6 / 50

#45. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 140 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

7 / 50

#44. Athletic trainers

- Median annual wage: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

8 / 50

#43. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

9 / 50

#42. Marriage and family therapists

- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

10 / 50

#41. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

11 / 50

#40. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $60,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

12 / 50

#39. Librarians and media collections specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 250 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

13 / 50

#38. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 160 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

14 / 50

#37. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $61,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

15 / 50

#36. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $62,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

16 / 50

#35. Counselors, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

17 / 50

#34. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

18 / 50

#33. Instructional coordinators

- Median annual wage: $65,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 290 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

19 / 50

#32. Business teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 150 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

20 / 50

#31. Orthotists and prosthetists

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

21 / 50

#30. Physics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $75,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

22 / 50

#29. Clinical and counseling psychologists

- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 160 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

23 / 50

#28. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $80,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 140 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

24 / 50

#27. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $81,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 90 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

25 / 50

#26. Occupational therapists

- Median annual wage: $83,350
- Median hourly wage: $40.07
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 560 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

26 / 50

#25. Urban and regional planners

- Median annual wage: $84,210
- Median hourly wage: $40.48
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

27 / 50

#24. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,080
- Median hourly wage: $40.91
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

28 / 50

#23. Statisticians

- Median annual wage: $88,190
- Median hourly wage: $42.40
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

29 / 50

#22. Physical therapists

- Median annual wage: $90,970
- Median hourly wage: $43.74
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 780 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

30 / 50

#21. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $92,160
- Median hourly wage: $44.31
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 290 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

31 / 50

#20. Lawyers

- Median annual wage: $93,370
- Median hourly wage: $44.89
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 1,170 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

32 / 50

#19. Speech-language pathologists

- Median annual wage: $93,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.00
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 680 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

33 / 50

#18. Audiologists

- Median annual wage: $94,900
- Median hourly wage: $45.62
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

34 / 50

#17. School psychologists

- Median annual wage: $99,700
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 190 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

35 / 50

#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $102,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 670 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

36 / 50

#15. Computer and information research scientists

- Median annual wage: $103,500
- Median hourly wage: $49.76
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

37 / 50

#14. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $115,310
- Median hourly wage: $55.44
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 500 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

38 / 50

#13. Physician assistants

- Median annual wage: $119,100
- Median hourly wage: $57.26
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: 280 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

39 / 50

#12. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $124,370
- Median hourly wage: $59.79
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 130 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

40 / 50

#11. General internal medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $125,110
- Median hourly wage: $60.15
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 230 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

41 / 50

#10. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $130,500
- Median hourly wage: $62.74
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 260 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

42 / 50

#9. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $135,570
- Median hourly wage: $65.18
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 540 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

43 / 50

#8. Pediatricians, general

- Median annual wage: $164,980
- Median hourly wage: $79.32
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

44 / 50

#7. Nurse anesthetists

- Median annual wage: $184,470
- Median hourly wage: $88.69
- Education required: Master's degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

45 / 50

#6. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric

- Median annual wage: $194,850
- Median hourly wage: $93.68
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

46 / 50

#5. Family medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $230,930
- Median hourly wage: $111.02
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 440 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

47 / 50

#4. Dermatologists

- Median annual wage: $235,850
- Median hourly wage: $113.39
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 110 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

48 / 50

#1. Neurologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

49 / 50

#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency

50 / 50

#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: Exact median salary unknown; at least $239,200 per year or $115 per hour
- Education required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Internship/residency