Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine that require a graduate degree

Written by:
June 6, 2025
insta_photos // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine 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 Portland that require a graduate degree in Portland. 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.

You may also like: Portland, Maine 7-day weather forecast
1 / 50
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

#50. Counselors, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

2 / 50
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#49. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

3 / 50
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#48. Postsecondary teachers, all other

- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 / 50
Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock

#47. Acupuncturists

- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: Not available

5 / 50
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock

#46. Business teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Portland, Maine area by diners
6 / 50
DGLimages // Shutterstock

#45. Mental health and substance abuse social workers

- Median annual wage: $72,260
- Median hourly wage: $34.74
- Total employment: 440 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

7 / 50
DGLimages // Shutterstock

#44. Healthcare social workers

- Median annual wage: $74,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.58
- Total employment: 260 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

8 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#43. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $75,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

9 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#42. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $76,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

10 / 50
VH-studio // Shutterstock

#41. School psychologists

- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Where people in Portland, Maine are looking to buy homes
11 / 50
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock

#40. Urban and regional planners

- Median annual wage: $77,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 110 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

12 / 50
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#39. Education teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $78,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

13 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#38. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $79,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

14 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#37. Social work teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $79,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

15 / 50
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock

#36. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $82,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Portland, Maine metro area
16 / 50
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock

#35. Speech-language pathologists

- Median annual wage: $82,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.85
- Total employment: 230 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

17 / 50
voronaman // Shutterstock

#34. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

18 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#33. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $83,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

19 / 50
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#32. Occupational therapists

- Median annual wage: $83,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 490 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

20 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#31. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $84,850
- Median hourly wage: $40.80
- Total employment: 370 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Portland, Maine by diners
21 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#30. Clinical and counseling psychologists

- Median annual wage: $87,550
- Median hourly wage: $42.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

22 / 50
SeventyFour // Shutterstock

#29. History teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $93,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

23 / 50
luchschenF // Shutterstock

#28. Biochemists and biophysicists

- Median annual wage: $96,110
- Median hourly wage: $46.21
- Total employment: 340 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

24 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#27. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

- Median annual wage: $96,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: Not available

25 / 50
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#26. Physical therapists

- Median annual wage: $97,850
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 820 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Portland, Maine area by diners
26 / 50
totojang1977 // Shutterstock

#25. Orthotists and prosthetists

- Median annual wage: $98,520
- Median hourly wage: $47.37
- Total employment: 100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

27 / 50
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#24. Lawyers

- Median annual wage: $102,250
- Median hourly wage: $49.16
- Total employment: 1,210 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

28 / 50
KSai23 // Shutterstock

#23. Chiropractors

- Median annual wage: $103,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 110 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

29 / 50
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#22. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $108,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

30 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#21. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $121,810
- Median hourly wage: $58.56
- Total employment: 700 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Portland, Maine area by diners
31 / 50
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

#20. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $124,380
- Median hourly wage: $59.80
- Total employment: 280 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

32 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#19. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $127,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available

33 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#18. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $128,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

34 / 50
Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#17. Law teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $128,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

35 / 50
Stokkete // Shutterstock

#16. Physician assistants

- Median annual wage: $131,540
- Median hourly wage: $63.24
- Total employment: 430 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best public high schools in the Portland, Maine metro area
36 / 50
Kzenon // Shutterstock

#15. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $133,310
- Median hourly wage: $64.09
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

37 / 50
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#14. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $135,500
- Median hourly wage: $65.14
- Total employment: 570 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

38 / 50
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#13. Family medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $220,590
- Median hourly wage: $106.06
- Total employment: 320 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

39 / 50
BlurryMe // Shutterstock

#12. General internal medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $222,040
- Median hourly wage: $106.75
- Total employment: 150 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

40 / 50
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

#11. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $223,320
- Median hourly wage: $107.36
- Total employment: 220 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Portland, Maine by diners
41 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#10. Pediatricians, general

- Median annual wage: $225,390
- Median hourly wage: $108.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

42 / 50
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock

#1. Physicians, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 680 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

43 / 50
Djols // Shutterstock

#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

44 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

45 / 50
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

#1. Radiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Portland, Maine
46 / 50
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock

#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

47 / 50
LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

48 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

49 / 50
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock

#1. Cardiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

50 / 50
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#1. Dermatologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

You may also like: Best private high schools in the Portland, Maine metro area

Trending Now