Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Orlando that require a graduate degree
Earning top dollar typically requires more education than an undergraduate degree can provide. Doctors, lawyers, and professors need extra years of focused study for their chosen fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in fields like business, teaching, and public health build specialized knowledge that can fast-track a career—and one's salary.
Many hiring managers view a master's degree as the equivalent of two years of work experience, giving graduate degree holders a leg up. In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Orlando that require a graduate degree in Orlando. 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.
Job security is another benefit. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder is 2.2%, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates and professional degree holders' unemployment rate is close to 1%.
Employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, but that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median student debt has also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, some prospective students may find it difficult to justify the expense. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their degreed counterparts in humanities and the arts. A graduate degree in humanities also only brought a 10% earnings premium over someone with a bachelor's degree.
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Orlando
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Orlando that require a bachelor's degree
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 950 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 570 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Orlando area
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $75,690
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Total employment: 340 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $77,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 2,300 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $79,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 250 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Orlando
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $81,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.16
- Total employment: 510 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $82,600
- Median hourly wage: $39.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $83,290
- Median hourly wage: $40.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Orlando that don't require a college degree
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 660 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,920
- Median hourly wage: $40.83
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 660 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $85,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,620 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Total employment: 980 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Orlando
Petekub // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Economists
- Median annual wage: $89,020
- Median hourly wage: $42.80
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $89,460
- Median hourly wage: $43.01
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $92,750
- Median hourly wage: $44.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,940
- Median hourly wage: $47.57
- Total employment: 750 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: What salary do I need to afford a house in Orlando in 2026?
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 960 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,250
- Median hourly wage: $49.16
- Total employment: 1,550 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $104,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.00
- Total employment: 440 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $104,160
- Median hourly wage: $50.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $113,030
- Median hourly wage: $54.34
- Total employment: 190 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Orlando metro area
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $120,640
- Median hourly wage: $58.00
- Total employment: 180 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $125,380
- Median hourly wage: $60.28
- Total employment: 5,320 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $127,080
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 1,430 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $128,210
- Median hourly wage: $61.64
- Total employment: 1,970 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $131,530
- Median hourly wage: $63.24
- Total employment: 580 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Orlando
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,480
- Median hourly wage: $65.61
- Total employment: 2,860 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $145,210
- Median hourly wage: $69.81
- Total employment: 470 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $150,230
- Median hourly wage: $72.22
- Total employment: 1,680 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $156,440
- Median hourly wage: $75.21
- Total employment: 1,300 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $160,230
- Median hourly wage: $77.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Orlando by diners
Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Acupuncturists
- Median annual wage: $190,060
- Median hourly wage: $91.38
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $196,320
- Median hourly wage: $94.39
- Total employment: 750 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
48 / 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
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: 2,080 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (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 363 metros.
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Orlando
