GaudiLab // Shutterstock
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 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 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.
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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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)
luchschenF // 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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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)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
43 / 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)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 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)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 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)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 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)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
47 / 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
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
48 / 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)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
49 / 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)
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: 450 people (0.17 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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