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1 / 50#50. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Tampa 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 Tampa that require a graduate degree in Tampa. 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.
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2 / 50#49. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $64,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Survey researchers
- Median annual wage: $71,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.36
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 390 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,370
- Median hourly wage: $37.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $79,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: 460 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $82,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Total employment: 410 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,500
- Median hourly wage: $41.11
- Total employment: 1,370 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50#33. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $85,890
- Median hourly wage: $41.30
- Total employment: Not available
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19 / 50#32. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $89,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.12
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 950 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $97,440
- Median hourly wage: $46.85
- Total employment: 1,440 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,470
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Total employment: 1,610 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,740
- Median hourly wage: $48.43
- Total employment: 2,460 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Economists
- Median annual wage: $101,270
- Median hourly wage: $48.69
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 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: $103,500
- Median hourly wage: $49.76
- Total employment: 270 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $110,300
- Median hourly wage: $53.03
- Total employment: 220 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $114,990
- Median hourly wage: $55.28
- Total employment: 1,610 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $122,630
- Median hourly wage: $58.96
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $126,780
- Median hourly wage: $60.95
- Total employment: 8,870 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $127,130
- Median hourly wage: $61.12
- Total employment: 280 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $127,430
- Median hourly wage: $61.26
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $128,430
- Median hourly wage: $61.75
- Total employment: 3,810 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $131,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.13
- Total employment: 360 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $132,730
- Median hourly wage: $63.81
- Total employment: 940 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,110
- Median hourly wage: $64.00
- Total employment: 3,370 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $153,930
- Median hourly wage: $74.01
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $161,290
- Median hourly wage: $77.54
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $197,660
- Median hourly wage: $95.03
- Total employment: 1,130 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 830 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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: 530 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 4,820 people (3.34 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
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 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 363 metros.
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