Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 46#46. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $35,090
- Median hourly wage: $16.87
- Total employment: 210 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Little Rock 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 Little Rock that require a graduate degree in Little Rock. 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 / 46#45. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $42,260
- Median hourly wage: $20.32
- Total employment: 560 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
3 / 46#44. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $47,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 46#43. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $48,090
- Median hourly wage: $23.12
- Total employment: 420 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 46#42. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $49,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 46#41. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $50,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 880 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
7 / 46#40. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $51,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 180 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 46#39. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $53,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
9 / 46#38. Farm and home management educators
- Median annual wage: $55,360
- Median hourly wage: $26.61
- Total employment: 140 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
10 / 46#37. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 320 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 46#36. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 260 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 46#35. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 560 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 46#34. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 810 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 46#33. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
15 / 46#32. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 46#31. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 46#30. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 370 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
18 / 46#29. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
19 / 46#28. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $66,680
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 550 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
20 / 46#27. Economists
- Median annual wage: $72,200
- Median hourly wage: $34.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 46#26. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 46#25. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 46#24. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 46#23. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
25 / 46#22. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $77,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 46#21. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
27 / 46#20. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
28 / 46#19. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 46#18. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 1,840 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
30 / 46#17. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $83,610
- Median hourly wage: $40.20
- Total employment: 940 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Pheelings media // Shutterstock
31 / 46#16. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $84,160
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 46#15. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 490 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 46#14. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $89,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 700 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
34 / 46#13. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $93,340
- Median hourly wage: $44.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
35 / 46#12. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $94,970
- Median hourly wage: $45.66
- Total employment: 1,140 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
36 / 46#11. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $96,380
- Median hourly wage: $46.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
37 / 46#9. Optometrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $98,490
- Median hourly wage: $47.35
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
38 / 46#9. Occupational therapists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $98,490
- Median hourly wage: $47.35
- Total employment: 670 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
39 / 46#8. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $99,060
- Median hourly wage: $47.62
- Total employment: 130 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 46#7. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $113,660
- Median hourly wage: $54.64
- Total employment: 1,140 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 46#6. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $122,550
- Median hourly wage: $58.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
42 / 46#5. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $134,380
- Median hourly wage: $64.61
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 46#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $174,960
- Median hourly wage: $84.12
- Total employment: 200 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 46#3. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $178,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,570 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 46#2. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $186,780
- Median hourly wage: $89.80
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 46#1. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,020 people (2.88 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.
