Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 36#36. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $38,590
- Median hourly wage: $18.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Lakeland 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 Lakeland that require a graduate degree in Lakeland. 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: Are home prices going down in Lakeland in 2026?
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
2 / 36#35. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $47,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.07
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
3 / 36#34. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $49,090
- Median hourly wage: $23.60
- Total employment: 390 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 36#33. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
5 / 36#32. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Lakeland
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
6 / 36#31. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $57,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 36#30. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $58,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
8 / 36#29. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 36#28. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $63,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 190 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 36#27. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Lakeland
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
11 / 36#26. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $64,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 750 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 36#25. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
13 / 36#24. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $71,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.20
- Total employment: 200 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 36#23. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
15 / 36#22. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $74,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Lakeland metro area
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 36#21. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 36#20. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
18 / 36#19. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $76,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 36#18. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 36#17. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,470
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 260 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Lakeland
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
21 / 36#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $84,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 36#15. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $85,040
- Median hourly wage: $40.89
- Total employment: 130 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 36#14. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $92,260
- Median hourly wage: $44.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
24 / 36#13. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,430
- Median hourly wage: $46.36
- Total employment: 190 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
25 / 36#12. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,020
- Median hourly wage: $47.12
- Total employment: 370 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Lakeland
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
26 / 36#11. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $98,660
- Median hourly wage: $47.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
27 / 36#10. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $108,990
- Median hourly wage: $52.40
- Total employment: 880 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 36#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $121,470
- Median hourly wage: $58.40
- Total employment: 260 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 36#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $123,140
- Median hourly wage: $59.20
- Total employment: 510 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 36#7. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $130,190
- Median hourly wage: $62.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Lakeland
Kzenon // Shutterstock
31 / 36#6. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $137,120
- Median hourly wage: $65.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 36#5. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $139,810
- Median hourly wage: $67.22
- Total employment: 430 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
33 / 36#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $168,650
- Median hourly wage: $81.08
- Total employment: 190 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 36#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
35 / 36#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Lakeland that require a graduate degree
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
36 / 36#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (1.02 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.
