DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $53,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Lexington 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 Lexington that require a graduate degree in Lexington. 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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DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $54,530
- Median hourly wage: $26.22
- Total employment: 180 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $54,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $56,150
- Median hourly wage: $26.99
- Total employment: 330 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $57,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 70 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $58,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 1,060 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $61,070
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 520 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 170 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 340 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 890 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $67,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $70,140
- Median hourly wage: $33.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $70,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DGLimages // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $70,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 350 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $73,360
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $76,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $84,780
- Median hourly wage: $40.76
- Total employment: 330 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $86,110
- Median hourly wage: $41.40
- Total employment: 550 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $87,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $87,160
- Median hourly wage: $41.90
- Total employment: 290 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $93,040
- Median hourly wage: $44.73
- Total employment: 100 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $101,040
- Median hourly wage: $48.58
- Total employment: 370 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $103,010
- Median hourly wage: $49.52
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 740 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,660
- Median hourly wage: $50.80
- Total employment: 240 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $106,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 590 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $108,400
- Median hourly wage: $52.11
- Total employment: 280 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $113,870
- Median hourly wage: $54.74
- Total employment: 850 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $124,340
- Median hourly wage: $59.78
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $132,700
- Median hourly wage: $63.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $138,300
- Median hourly wage: $66.49
- Total employment: 990 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $149,990
- Median hourly wage: $72.11
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $231,240
- Median hourly wage: $111.17
- Total employment: 300 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $235,770
- Median hourly wage: $113.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $237,740
- Median hourly wage: $114.30
- Total employment: 110 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 600 people (2.11 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.
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