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 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 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.
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: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Augusta in 2026?
DGLimages // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Augusta by diners
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Augusta this year
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)
fizkes // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Best high schools in the Augusta metro area
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Augusta?
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Augusta by diners
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)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Augusta October 2025
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Are home prices going down in Augusta in 2026?
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)
You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Augusta
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Where people in Augusta are looking to buy homes
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
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 363 metros.
