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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 typically requires more education than an undergraduate degree can provide. Doctors, lawyers, and professors need extra years of focused study for their chosen fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in fields like business, teaching, and public health build specialized knowledge that can fast-track a career—and one's salary.
Many hiring managers view a master's degree as the equivalent of two years of work experience, giving graduate degree holders a leg up. In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
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.
Job security is another benefit. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder is 2.2%, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates and professional degree holders' unemployment rate is close to 1%.
Employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, but that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median student debt has also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, some prospective students may find it difficult to justify the expense. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their degreed counterparts in humanities and the arts. A graduate degree in humanities also only brought a 10% earnings premium over someone with a bachelor's degree.
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
45 / 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)
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46 / 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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
48 / 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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 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
50 / 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)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 363 metros.
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