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1 / 50#50. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $128,710
- Median hourly wage: $61.88
- Total employment: 300 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in San Francisco 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 San Francisco that require a graduate degree in San Francisco. 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. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $128,960
- Median hourly wage: $62.00
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $129,400
- Median hourly wage: $62.21
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $130,270
- Median hourly wage: $62.63
- Total employment: 1,930 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $131,540
- Median hourly wage: $63.24
- Total employment: 200 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $132,200
- Median hourly wage: $63.56
- Total employment: 150 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Economists
- Median annual wage: $134,410
- Median hourly wage: $64.62
- Total employment: 440 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $136,200
- Median hourly wage: $65.48
- Total employment: 3,170 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $137,490
- Median hourly wage: $66.10
- Total employment: 1,790 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $138,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $139,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 750 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $140,850
- Median hourly wage: $67.72
- Total employment: 1,940 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $142,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 730 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $142,540
- Median hourly wage: $68.53
- Total employment: 6,870 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $145,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 4,060 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $145,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $149,400
- Median hourly wage: $71.83
- Total employment: 830 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $149,850
- Median hourly wage: $72.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $152,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $152,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $154,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $157,750
- Median hourly wage: $75.84
- Total employment: 980 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $160,210
- Median hourly wage: $77.02
- Total employment: 2,220 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $163,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $163,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 410 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $167,090
- Median hourly wage: $80.33
- Total employment: 1,980 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $168,820
- Median hourly wage: $81.16
- Total employment: 1,860 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $178,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $183,510
- Median hourly wage: $88.23
- Total employment: 4,230 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $187,990
- Median hourly wage: $90.38
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $204,980
- Median hourly wage: $98.55
- Total employment: 200 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $205,380
- Median hourly wage: $98.74
- Total employment: 1,680 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $211,750
- Median hourly wage: $101.80
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $215,090
- Median hourly wage: $103.41
- Total employment: 16,940 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $220,330
- Median hourly wage: $105.93
- Total employment: 2,960 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (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
46 / 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
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 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
48 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,340 people (0.97 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: 510 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 3,080 people (1.28 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.
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