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1 / 33#33. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $48,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 110 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Athens 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 Athens that require a graduate degree in Athens. 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 / 33#32. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $49,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 33#31. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $58,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 230 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 33#30. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 180 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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5 / 33#29. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 110 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 33#28. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 33#27. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 33#26. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 33#25. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 33#24. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $68,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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11 / 33#23. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $72,460
- Median hourly wage: $34.84
- Total employment: 170 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
12 / 33#22. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
13 / 33#21. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 33#20. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 33#19. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $82,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 220 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 33#18. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,230
- Median hourly wage: $39.54
- Total employment: 110 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
17 / 33#17. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $89,060
- Median hourly wage: $42.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
18 / 33#16. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,460
- Median hourly wage: $46.86
- Total employment: 70 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
19 / 33#15. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,230
- Median hourly wage: $47.23
- Total employment: 130 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
20 / 33#14. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $100,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 33#13. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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22 / 33#12. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
23 / 33#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $103,240
- Median hourly wage: $49.64
- Total employment: 130 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 33#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $123,250
- Median hourly wage: $59.25
- Total employment: 280 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 33#9. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $127,090
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 270 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 33#8. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,710
- Median hourly wage: $62.36
- Total employment: 140 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
27 / 33#7. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
28 / 33#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $170,180
- Median hourly wage: $81.82
- Total employment: 80 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
29 / 33#5. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $233,360
- Median hourly wage: $112.19
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
30 / 33#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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31 / 33#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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32 / 33#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 33#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (1.38 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.
