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1 / 47#47. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $37,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.06
- Total employment: 60 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in South Bend 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 South Bend that require a graduate degree in South Bend. 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 / 47#46. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $46,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.16
- Total employment: 560 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
3 / 47#45. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $47,940
- Median hourly wage: $23.05
- Total employment: 180 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
4 / 47#44. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $50,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 360 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
5 / 47#43. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $53,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.63
- Total employment: 150 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 47#42. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 47#41. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 47#40. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $63,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 150 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
9 / 47#39. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $66,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: 180 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 47#38. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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11 / 47#37. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 47#36. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $74,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
13 / 47#35. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 47#34. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
15 / 47#33. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 47#32. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 47#31. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
18 / 47#30. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 47#29. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 47#28. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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21 / 47#27. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $81,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 140 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
22 / 47#26. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,700
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
23 / 47#25. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
24 / 47#24. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
KSai23 // Shutterstock
25 / 47#23. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $82,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 47#22. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 330 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 47#21. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
28 / 47#20. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 360 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
29 / 47#19. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 120 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
30 / 47#18. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,290
- Median hourly wage: $47.74
- Total employment: 160 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 47#17. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
32 / 47#16. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 47#15. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
34 / 47#14. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Kzenon // Shutterstock
35 / 47#13. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $126,210
- Median hourly wage: $60.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 47#12. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $126,690
- Median hourly wage: $60.91
- Total employment: 280 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
37 / 47#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $128,980
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
38 / 47#10. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $129,140
- Median hourly wage: $62.09
- Total employment: 350 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
39 / 47#9. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 47#8. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $138,980
- Median hourly wage: $66.82
- Total employment: 260 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
41 / 47#7. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $147,950
- Median hourly wage: $71.13
- Total employment: 90 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 47#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $200,610
- Median hourly wage: $96.45
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 47#5. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $219,600
- Median hourly wage: $105.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 47#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $221,070
- Median hourly wage: $106.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 47#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 47#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 47#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (1.5 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.
