Highest-paying Jobs in Los Angeles That Require a Graduate Degree

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Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles that require a graduate degree in Los Angeles. 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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I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock

#50. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $116,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#49. Physical therapists

- Median annual wage: $117,000
- Median hourly wage: $56.25
- Total employment: 8,150 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Petekub // Shutterstock

#48. Economists

- Median annual wage: $118,190
- Median hourly wage: $56.82
- Total employment: 300 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#47. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $120,970
- Median hourly wage: $58.16
- Total employment: 7,030 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Lucky Business // Shutterstock

#46. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $125,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#45. Law teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $126,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#44. Architecture teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $126,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 410 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#43. Physics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $128,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#42. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

- Median annual wage: $128,470
- Median hourly wage: $61.77
- Total employment: 6,600 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#41. Genetic counselors

- Median annual wage: $130,310
- Median hourly wage: $62.65
- Total employment: 100 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Daniel Besic // Shutterstock

#40. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $130,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,840 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#39. Social work teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $130,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#38. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $130,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Lucky Business // Shutterstock

#37. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $130,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#36. Communications teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $131,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#35. Economics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $132,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 380 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#34. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $132,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 780 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#33. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $132,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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indukas // Shutterstock

#32. Physicists

- Median annual wage: $133,070
- Median hourly wage: $63.98
- Total employment: 370 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#31. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $135,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 880 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kzenon // Shutterstock

#30. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $137,070
- Median hourly wage: $65.90
- Total employment: 2,720 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

#29. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $138,430
- Median hourly wage: $66.55
- Total employment: 2,470 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#28. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $139,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 10,550 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#27. Geography teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $140,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#26. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $142,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#25. Computer and information research scientists

- Median annual wage: $149,070
- Median hourly wage: $71.67
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kenishirotie //Shutterstock

#24. Mathematicians

- Median annual wage: $149,150
- Median hourly wage: $71.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stokkete // Shutterstock

#23. Physician assistants

- Median annual wage: $156,210
- Median hourly wage: $75.10
- Total employment: 4,710 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#22. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $158,450
- Median hourly wage: $76.18
- Total employment: 12,390 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#21. Psychologists, all other

- Median annual wage: $160,640
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: 500 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ESB Professional // Shutterstock

#20. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $162,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 670 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#19. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $164,510
- Median hourly wage: $79.09
- Total employment: 6,400 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

#18. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $176,200
- Median hourly wage: $84.71
- Total employment: 4,300 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#17. Family medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $179,990
- Median hourly wage: $86.53
- Total employment: Not available

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#16. Nurse midwives

- Median annual wage: $190,230
- Median hourly wage: $91.46
- Total employment: 190 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Elnur // Shutterstock

#15. Podiatrists

- Median annual wage: $193,510
- Median hourly wage: $93.03
- Total employment: 370 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#14. Lawyers

- Median annual wage: $205,900
- Median hourly wage: $98.99
- Total employment: 40,990 people (6.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#13. Obstetricians and gynecologists

- Median annual wage: $235,930
- Median hourly wage: $113.43
- Total employment: Not available

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LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#1. Psychiatrists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,880 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock

#1. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Photoroyalty // Shutterstock

#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

#1. Orthodontists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock

#1. Cardiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)