Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $113,210
- Median hourly wage: $54.43
- Total employment: 1,680 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Sacramento 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 Sacramento that require a graduate degree in Sacramento. 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: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Sacramento metro area
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $113,810
- Median hourly wage: $54.72
- Total employment: 160 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aodaodaodaod // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $114,230
- Median hourly wage: $54.92
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $118,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $118,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sacramento
fizkes // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $118,780
- Median hourly wage: $57.10
- Total employment: 620 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $119,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $120,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $121,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $121,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Sacramento
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $122,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $122,490
- Median hourly wage: $58.89
- Total employment: 750 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $122,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best public middle schools in the Sacramento metro area
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $123,740
- Median hourly wage: $59.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $123,900
- Median hourly wage: $59.57
- Total employment: 650 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $123,960
- Median hourly wage: $59.60
- Total employment: 510 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Sacramento area
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,810
- Median hourly wage: $61.93
- Total employment: 580 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $130,160
- Median hourly wage: $62.58
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $131,390
- Median hourly wage: $63.17
- Total employment: 930 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How many homes are for sale in Sacramento right now?
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $132,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $133,350
- Median hourly wage: $64.11
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $150,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,090 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $153,630
- Median hourly wage: $73.86
- Total employment: 760 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Sacramento
Kzenon // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $154,450
- Median hourly wage: $74.25
- Total employment: 490 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $158,420
- Median hourly wage: $76.16
- Total employment: 850 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $161,850
- Median hourly wage: $77.81
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $164,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,200 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Sacramento
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $164,520
- Median hourly wage: $79.10
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $171,120
- Median hourly wage: $82.27
- Total employment: 6,730 people (6.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $173,510
- Median hourly wage: $83.42
- Total employment: 2,320 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $201,960
- Median hourly wage: $97.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $204,320
- Median hourly wage: $98.23
- Total employment: 760 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Sacramento buyers
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $208,850
- Median hourly wage: $100.41
- Total employment: 270 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $230,530
- Median hourly wage: $110.83
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Sacramento 7-day weather forecast
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 630 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (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.
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Sacramento by diners
