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1 / 50#50. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $115,390
- Median hourly wage: $55.48
- Total employment: 1,800 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Riverside 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 Riverside that require a graduate degree in Riverside. 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 / 50#49. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $117,750
- Median hourly wage: $56.61
- Total employment: 110 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $120,190
- Median hourly wage: $57.79
- Total employment: 2,130 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $123,940
- Median hourly wage: $59.59
- Total employment: 140 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $124,200
- Median hourly wage: $59.71
- Total employment: 790 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aodaodaodaod // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $128,600
- Median hourly wage: $61.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $128,890
- Median hourly wage: $61.96
- Total employment: 990 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,330
- Median hourly wage: $62.18
- Total employment: 750 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $131,890
- Median hourly wage: $63.41
- Total employment: 550 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 700 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50#33. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $143,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $145,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $146,060
- Median hourly wage: $70.22
- Total employment: 120 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50#28. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $150,490
- Median hourly wage: $72.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $158,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $158,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $158,710
- Median hourly wage: $76.30
- Total employment: 660 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $159,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $160,640
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: 3,800 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $160,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,430 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $161,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $161,790
- Median hourly wage: $77.78
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $162,470
- Median hourly wage: $78.11
- Total employment: 1,630 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $162,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $166,730
- Median hourly wage: $80.16
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $168,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $172,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $173,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $178,040
- Median hourly wage: $85.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $181,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $185,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $186,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $201,870
- Median hourly wage: $97.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $203,180
- Median hourly wage: $97.69
- Total employment: Not available
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46 / 50#5. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $214,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $234,800
- Median hourly wage: $112.89
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 260 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 470 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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