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1 / 50#50. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $102,760
- Median hourly wage: $49.40
- Total employment: 900 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in San Jose 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 Jose that require a graduate degree in San Jose. 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. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $106,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.96
- Total employment: 790 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $115,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $118,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $119,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $119,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $120,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $121,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $121,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $126,830
- Median hourly wage: $60.98
- Total employment: 300 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $127,940
- Median hourly wage: $61.51
- Total employment: 280 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.02
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $129,330
- Median hourly wage: $62.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $133,380
- Median hourly wage: $64.13
- Total employment: 310 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $134,720
- Median hourly wage: $64.77
- Total employment: 700 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $135,860
- Median hourly wage: $65.32
- Total employment: 630 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $137,240
- Median hourly wage: $65.98
- Total employment: 220 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $137,250
- Median hourly wage: $65.98
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $140,900
- Median hourly wage: $67.74
- Total employment: 600 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $149,340
- Median hourly wage: $71.80
- Total employment: 380 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $153,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $154,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $155,990
- Median hourly wage: $75.00
- Total employment: 1,600 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $159,960
- Median hourly wage: $76.90
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $164,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,810 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $169,330
- Median hourly wage: $81.41
- Total employment: 110 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $175,050
- Median hourly wage: $84.16
- Total employment: 340 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $177,740
- Median hourly wage: $85.45
- Total employment: 420 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $181,230
- Median hourly wage: $87.13
- Total employment: 1,480 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $191,880
- Median hourly wage: $92.25
- Total employment: 2,190 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $196,250
- Median hourly wage: $94.35
- Total employment: 1,950 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $214,520
- Median hourly wage: $103.14
- Total employment: 430 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $215,600
- Median hourly wage: $103.65
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $225,730
- Median hourly wage: $108.52
- Total employment: 1,280 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Lawyers (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 6,270 people (5.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.19 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.
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