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1 / 50#50. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $57,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville that require a graduate degree in Jacksonville. 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. Curators
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 1,980 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 50#47. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 440 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $58,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $59,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 700 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 640 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#37. Business teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $67,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 800 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $75,320
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Anthropologists and archeologists
- Median annual wage: $76,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 150 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $81,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $82,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,490 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $88,770
- Median hourly wage: $42.68
- Total employment: 240 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $94,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.48
- Total employment: 1,260 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $94,920
- Median hourly wage: $45.63
- Total employment: 620 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $95,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.04
- Total employment: 250 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,130
- Median hourly wage: $46.22
- Total employment: 600 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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30 / 50#21. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $96,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.48
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,560
- Median hourly wage: $46.90
- Total employment: 700 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $99,230
- Median hourly wage: $47.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 560 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $101,850
- Median hourly wage: $48.97
- Total employment: Not available
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35 / 50#16. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $126,460
- Median hourly wage: $60.80
- Total employment: 180 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $127,480
- Median hourly wage: $61.29
- Total employment: 3,790 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $129,530
- Median hourly wage: $62.28
- Total employment: 2,290 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $130,850
- Median hourly wage: $62.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $130,980
- Median hourly wage: $62.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $131,130
- Median hourly wage: $63.05
- Total employment: 490 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,680
- Median hourly wage: $64.27
- Total employment: 1,570 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $135,960
- Median hourly wage: $65.36
- Total employment: 1,070 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $141,890
- Median hourly wage: $68.22
- Total employment: 700 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50#7. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $148,040
- Median hourly wage: $71.18
- Total employment: 210 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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45 / 50#6. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $165,580
- Median hourly wage: $79.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $216,970
- Median hourly wage: $104.31
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $234,060
- Median hourly wage: $112.53
- Total employment: 530 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,740 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 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
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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