Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Miami 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 Miami that require a graduate degree in Miami. 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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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 810 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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KSai23 // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $84,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.51
- Total employment: 830 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $85,080
- Median hourly wage: $40.91
- Total employment: 670 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
VH-studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $85,920
- Median hourly wage: $41.31
- Total employment: 520 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $92,700
- Median hourly wage: $44.57
- Total employment: 630 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 610 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,100
- Median hourly wage: $46.68
- Total employment: 5,710 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 2,590 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,260
- Median hourly wage: $47.24
- Total employment: 2,950 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $98,940
- Median hourly wage: $47.57
- Total employment: Not available
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,670
- Median hourly wage: $47.92
- Total employment: 2,310 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $101,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 4,080 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $104,660
- Median hourly wage: $50.32
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Petekub // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Economists
- Median annual wage: $104,960
- Median hourly wage: $50.46
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $109,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $113,800
- Median hourly wage: $54.71
- Total employment: 190 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $121,570
- Median hourly wage: $58.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $121,610
- Median hourly wage: $58.47
- Total employment: 290 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,810 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $128,420
- Median hourly wage: $61.74
- Total employment: 2,370 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $129,920
- Median hourly wage: $62.46
- Total employment: 26,720 people (9.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $131,190
- Median hourly wage: $63.07
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $131,690
- Median hourly wage: $63.31
- Total employment: 310 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $131,790
- Median hourly wage: $63.36
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $132,160
- Median hourly wage: $63.54
- Total employment: 220 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $135,450
- Median hourly wage: $65.12
- Total employment: 9,200 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,170
- Median hourly wage: $65.95
- Total employment: 5,300 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $144,180
- Median hourly wage: $69.32
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $167,270
- Median hourly wage: $80.42
- Total employment: 2,350 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $185,730
- Median hourly wage: $89.29
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $204,220
- Median hourly wage: $98.19
- Total employment: Not available
indukas // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $219,070
- Median hourly wage: $105.32
- Total employment: Not available
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 500 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 820 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Radiologists (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: 7,340 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 700 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 440 people (0.16 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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