Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 29#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $43,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Auburn that require a graduate degree
Earning top dollar often requires more education than an undergraduate degree. Of course, doctors, lawyers, and professors all need extra years of focused study in their respective fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in industries like business, engineering, and mathematics build specialized knowledge that can fast-track one's career—and salary.
In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Meanwhile, doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
However, wages can vary widely by occupation. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Auburn that require a graduate degree in Auburn. This includes doctorates, master's degrees, and professional degrees. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
Beyond offering higher pay, a master's degree may also provide greater job security. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder was 2.2% in 2024, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Unemployment is close to 1% among those with doctorates and professional degrees.
According to a May 2025 report from ResumeGenius, many employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, leading to better job prospects. But that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median cumulative grad school debt also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, the expense may be difficult to justify. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers with graduate degrees in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their counterparts in humanities and the arts. Meanwhile, a humanities graduate degree brought only 10% more earnings than a bachelor's degree.
Keep reading to find out how much graduate degree holders can earn in different roles.
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Auburn by diners
DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 29#28. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $50,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 29#27. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $50,880
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
4 / 29#26. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $56,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 29#25. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 300 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Auburn's 2025 housing market year in review
VH-studio // Shutterstock
6 / 29#24. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 320 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
7 / 29#23. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 29#22. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 130 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
9 / 29#21. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 29#20. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Auburn and surrounding regions
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 29#19. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $73,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
12 / 29#18. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 29#17. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
14 / 29#16. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $78,620
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 29#15. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Are home prices going down in Auburn in 2026?
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
16 / 29#14. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
17 / 29#13. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $80,590
- Median hourly wage: $38.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
18 / 29#12. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
19 / 29#11. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $93,200
- Median hourly wage: $44.81
- Total employment: 100 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
20 / 29#10. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $94,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Auburn
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 29#9. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $94,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 29#8. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $97,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
23 / 29#7. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $99,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
24 / 29#6. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $99,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.01
- Total employment: 100 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 29#5. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $107,780
- Median hourly wage: $51.82
- Total employment: 120 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Auburn are looking to buy homes
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 29#4. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 29#3. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,180
- Median hourly wage: $64.03
- Total employment: 230 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
28 / 29#2. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $155,090
- Median hourly wage: $74.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
29 / 29#1. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
