Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 800 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Louisville 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 Louisville that require a graduate degree in Louisville. 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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2 / 50#49. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $63,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 100 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Total employment: 470 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $65,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.59
- Total employment: 250 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $70,490
- Median hourly wage: $33.89
- Total employment: 1,370 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $73,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.28
- Total employment: 680 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Economists
- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 150 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $77,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,190 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $85,170
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $87,130
- Median hourly wage: $41.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,030
- Median hourly wage: $42.32
- Total employment: 820 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $96,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: 330 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $98,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.17
- Total employment: 770 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,880
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 350 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $103,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.93
- Total employment: 2,600 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,930
- Median hourly wage: $50.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $107,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $113,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,240 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $118,790
- Median hourly wage: $57.11
- Total employment: 1,710 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $122,440
- Median hourly wage: $58.87
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $126,150
- Median hourly wage: $60.65
- Total employment: 450 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $132,000
- Median hourly wage: $63.46
- Total employment: 200 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,890
- Median hourly wage: $65.81
- Total employment: 1,690 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $151,990
- Median hourly wage: $73.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $159,460
- Median hourly wage: $76.67
- Total employment: 300 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $193,830
- Median hourly wage: $93.19
- Total employment: 80 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $208,800
- Median hourly wage: $100.39
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $229,440
- Median hourly wage: $110.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,330 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 220 people (0.32 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: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.19 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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