Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 49#49. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $45,440
- Median hourly wage: $21.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Augusta 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 Augusta that require a graduate degree in Augusta. 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 / 49#48. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 49#47. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $52,630
- Median hourly wage: $25.30
- Total employment: 390 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
4 / 49#46. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 49#45. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 490 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 49#44. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $59,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 49#43. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $59,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 49#41. Librarians and media collections specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 230 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
9 / 49#41. Chiropractors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 49#40. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 49#39. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 49#38. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 49#37. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
14 / 49#36. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $64,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 320 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 49#35. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $68,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.11
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 49#34. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $72,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 49#33. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 280 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 49#32. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,730
- Median hourly wage: $36.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 49#31. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 49#30. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 49#29. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $82,220
- Median hourly wage: $39.53
- Total employment: 90 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 49#28. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
23 / 49#27. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $84,000
- Median hourly wage: $40.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 49#26. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
25 / 49#25. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $84,980
- Median hourly wage: $40.86
- Total employment: 250 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
26 / 49#24. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $85,270
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
27 / 49#23. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
28 / 49#22. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,000
- Median hourly wage: $46.16
- Total employment: 300 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 49#21. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $96,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
30 / 49#20. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,620
- Median hourly wage: $46.93
- Total employment: 240 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 49#19. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $99,670
- Median hourly wage: $47.92
- Total employment: Not available
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
32 / 49#18. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $101,130
- Median hourly wage: $48.62
- Total employment: 130 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
33 / 49#17. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $105,150
- Median hourly wage: $50.55
- Total employment: 330 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 49#16. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 49#15. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $109,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 49#14. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $110,410
- Median hourly wage: $53.08
- Total employment: 500 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 49#13. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $115,410
- Median hourly wage: $55.49
- Total employment: 510 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
38 / 49#12. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $124,090
- Median hourly wage: $59.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 49#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $130,920
- Median hourly wage: $62.94
- Total employment: 620 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
40 / 49#10. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $149,510
- Median hourly wage: $71.88
- Total employment: 100 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 49#9. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $165,860
- Median hourly wage: $79.74
- Total employment: 210 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 49#8. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $170,460
- Median hourly wage: $81.95
- Total employment: 190 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
43 / 49#7. Radiologists
- Median annual wage: $172,680
- Median hourly wage: $83.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 49#6. Anesthesiologists
- Median annual wage: $196,100
- Median hourly wage: $94.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 49#5. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $217,500
- Median hourly wage: $104.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 49#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $236,270
- Median hourly wage: $113.59
- Total employment: 150 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
47 / 49#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
48 / 49#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 660 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
49 / 49#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.46 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.
