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1 / 50#50. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,330 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Boston 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 Boston that require a graduate degree in Boston. 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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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $103,100
- Median hourly wage: $49.57
- Total employment: 3,610 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aodaodaodaod // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $103,510
- Median hourly wage: $49.76
- Total employment: 570 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Anthropologists and archeologists
- Median annual wage: $104,640
- Median hourly wage: $50.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $104,760
- Median hourly wage: $50.37
- Total employment: 140 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $104,770
- Median hourly wage: $50.37
- Total employment: 680 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $104,920
- Median hourly wage: $50.44
- Total employment: 420 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,060 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Economists
- Median annual wage: $111,320
- Median hourly wage: $53.52
- Total employment: 590 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $116,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,180 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $120,700
- Median hourly wage: $58.03
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $122,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 620 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $126,870
- Median hourly wage: $61.00
- Total employment: 420 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $127,510
- Median hourly wage: $61.30
- Total employment: 12,430 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,110
- Median hourly wage: $61.59
- Total employment: 6,890 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $128,220
- Median hourly wage: $61.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $129,230
- Median hourly wage: $62.13
- Total employment: 15,330 people (5.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $129,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,310 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Desizned // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Political scientists
- Median annual wage: $130,580
- Median hourly wage: $62.78
- Total employment: Not available
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $132,790
- Median hourly wage: $63.84
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $135,000
- Median hourly wage: $64.90
- Total employment: 3,370 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Acupuncturists
- Median annual wage: $135,260
- Median hourly wage: $65.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,800
- Median hourly wage: $65.77
- Total employment: 5,900 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $138,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 9,050 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $138,890
- Median hourly wage: $66.77
- Total employment: 6,660 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $146,810
- Median hourly wage: $70.58
- Total employment: 900 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
indukas // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $153,890
- Median hourly wage: $73.99
- Total employment: 500 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $155,890
- Median hourly wage: $74.95
- Total employment: 760 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $161,580
- Median hourly wage: $77.69
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $162,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $164,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 850 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $167,300
- Median hourly wage: $80.43
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $180,340
- Median hourly wage: $86.70
- Total employment: Not available
abriendomundo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Astronomers
- Median annual wage: $189,430
- Median hourly wage: $91.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $194,740
- Median hourly wage: $93.63
- Total employment: 18,900 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $212,030
- Median hourly wage: $101.94
- Total employment: 6,650 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $213,240
- Median hourly wage: $102.52
- Total employment: 2,360 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $221,710
- Median hourly wage: $106.59
- Total employment: 430 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physicians, pathologists
- Median annual wage: $228,050
- Median hourly wage: $109.64
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Neurologists
- Median annual wage: $228,070
- Median hourly wage: $109.65
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 470 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Dentists, all other specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 430 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Djols // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 450 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 420 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,900 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,600 people (0.59 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 364 metros.
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