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

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June 6, 2025
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Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine 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 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.

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.

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
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#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
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#47. Acupuncturists

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

5 / 50
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#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)

6 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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)

11 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#37. Social work teachers, postsecondary

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

15 / 50
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#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)

16 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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)

21 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#27. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

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

25 / 50
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#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)

26 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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)

31 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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)

36 / 50
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#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
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#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
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#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
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#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)

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
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#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)

43 / 50
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#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)

44 / 50
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#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)

45 / 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

46 / 50
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#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
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#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)

48 / 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

49 / 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)

50 / 50
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#1. Radiologists (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 363 metros.

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