Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
1 / 38#38. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,600
- Median hourly wage: $19.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Anchorage 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 Anchorage that require a graduate degree in Anchorage. 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.
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2 / 38#37. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 38#36. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
4 / 38#35. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $62,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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5 / 38#34. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.22
- Total employment: 180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 38#33. Acupuncturists
- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
7 / 38#32. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 38#31. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 38#30. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $72,500
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 200 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
10 / 38#29. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $78,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 38#28. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
12 / 38#27. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 670 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
13 / 38#26. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $80,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.52
- Total employment: 330 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
14 / 38#25. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 38#24. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 38#23. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $95,270
- Median hourly wage: $45.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
17 / 38#22. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $97,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.97
- Total employment: 140 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 38#21. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $98,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 38#20. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $99,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.07
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
20 / 38#19. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,120
- Median hourly wage: $48.14
- Total employment: 230 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 38#18. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $100,180
- Median hourly wage: $48.17
- Total employment: 210 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
22 / 38#17. Anthropologists and archeologists
- Median annual wage: $101,070
- Median hourly wage: $48.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 38#16. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,280
- Median hourly wage: $51.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
24 / 38#15. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $108,640
- Median hourly wage: $52.23
- Total employment: 390 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
25 / 38#14. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $109,700
- Median hourly wage: $52.74
- Total employment: Not available
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26 / 38#13. Economists
- Median annual wage: $124,590
- Median hourly wage: $59.90
- Total employment: Not available
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
27 / 38#12. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $127,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
28 / 38#11. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $128,530
- Median hourly wage: $61.80
- Total employment: 720 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
29 / 38#10. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $130,030
- Median hourly wage: $62.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
30 / 38#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $136,960
- Median hourly wage: $65.85
- Total employment: 460 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 38#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $145,140
- Median hourly wage: $69.78
- Total employment: 350 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
32 / 38#7. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $162,980
- Median hourly wage: $78.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 38#6. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $163,200
- Median hourly wage: $78.46
- Total employment: 310 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
34 / 38#5. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $164,220
- Median hourly wage: $78.95
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
35 / 38#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $233,910
- Median hourly wage: $112.46
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 38#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 38#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
38 / 38#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 280 people (1.59 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.
