Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#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)
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.
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2 / 50#49. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#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)
Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Acupuncturists
- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: Not available
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#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)
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DGLimages // Shutterstock
6 / 50#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)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
7 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#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)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#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)
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11 / 50#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)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#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)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#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)
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16 / 50#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)
voronaman // Shutterstock
17 / 50#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)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
18 / 50#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)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
19 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#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)
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21 / 50#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)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
22 / 50#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)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
23 / 50#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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $96,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: Not available
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
25 / 50#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)
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totojang1977 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#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)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
27 / 50#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)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#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)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#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)
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
31 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#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)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
34 / 50#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)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
35 / 50#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)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock
36 / 50#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)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 50#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)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
38 / 50#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)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
39 / 50#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)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#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)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
41 / 50#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)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
42 / 50#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)
Djols // Shutterstock
43 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#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)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
46 / 50#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)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#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)
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: Not available
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
49 / 50#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)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
50 / 50#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.
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