voronaman // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Atlanta 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 Atlanta that require a graduate degree in Atlanta. 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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2 / 50#49. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $96,310
- Median hourly wage: $46.30
- Total employment: 890 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $101,410
- Median hourly wage: $48.76
- Total employment: 2,150 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $101,620
- Median hourly wage: $48.86
- Total employment: 2,590 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $101,810
- Median hourly wage: $48.95
- Total employment: Not available
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $101,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.00
- Total employment: 800 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $103,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 4,100 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $103,790
- Median hourly wage: $49.90
- Total employment: 3,210 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $107,900
- Median hourly wage: $51.87
- Total employment: 2,670 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $109,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 750 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $109,260
- Median hourly wage: $52.53
- Total employment: 470 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $124,150
- Median hourly wage: $59.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $125,830
- Median hourly wage: $60.50
- Total employment: 310 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,150
- Median hourly wage: $60.65
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $127,150
- Median hourly wage: $61.13
- Total employment: 1,440 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Economists
- Median annual wage: $127,220
- Median hourly wage: $61.17
- Total employment: 310 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $128,640
- Median hourly wage: $61.84
- Total employment: 6,280 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $128,910
- Median hourly wage: $61.98
- Total employment: 17,810 people (6.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $131,020
- Median hourly wage: $62.99
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $131,120
- Median hourly wage: $63.04
- Total employment: 2,530 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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indukas // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $131,560
- Median hourly wage: $63.25
- Total employment: 140 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,250 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $133,550
- Median hourly wage: $64.21
- Total employment: 410 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,260
- Median hourly wage: $65.51
- Total employment: 6,760 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Emergency medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $139,990
- Median hourly wage: $67.30
- Total employment: 2,760 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $141,790
- Median hourly wage: $68.17
- Total employment: 560 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $161,810
- Median hourly wage: $77.79
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $162,290
- Median hourly wage: $78.02
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Anesthesiologists
- Median annual wage: $206,890
- Median hourly wage: $99.47
- Total employment: Not available
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $211,370
- Median hourly wage: $101.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $214,490
- Median hourly wage: $103.12
- Total employment: 1,900 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $217,720
- Median hourly wage: $104.67
- Total employment: 510 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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: 1,510 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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: 4,170 people (1.45 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: 680 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
4 PM production // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (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 364 metros.
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