Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 48#48. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $44,200
- Median hourly wage: $21.25
- Total employment: 420 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Springfield, Massachusetts 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 Springfield that require a graduate degree in Springfield. 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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2 / 48#47. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $57,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 48#46. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 1,560 people (7.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 48#45. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $58,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 720 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
5 / 48#44. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $61,230
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 450 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 48#43. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 290 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
7 / 48#42. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $71,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
8 / 48#41. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
9 / 48#40. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $77,070
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
10 / 48#39. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 600 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 48#38. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 48#37. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 790 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 48#36. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
14 / 48#35. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
15 / 48#34. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 48#33. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
17 / 48#31. Postsecondary teachers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
18 / 48#31. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
19 / 48#30. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 48#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 48#28. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 48#27. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 48#26. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 48#25. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $85,780
- Median hourly wage: $41.24
- Total employment: 380 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
25 / 48#24. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $92,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.46
- Total employment: 170 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
26 / 48#23. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 380 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
27 / 48#22. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $93,730
- Median hourly wage: $45.06
- Total employment: 430 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
28 / 48#21. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,070
- Median hourly wage: $48.11
- Total employment: 410 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
29 / 48#20. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 48#19. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,010
- Median hourly wage: $49.53
- Total employment: 550 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
31 / 48#18. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
32 / 48#17. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $105,300
- Median hourly wage: $50.62
- Total employment: 190 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 48#16. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
34 / 48#15. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $110,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 720 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 48#14. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $118,870
- Median hourly wage: $57.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
36 / 48#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $125,390
- Median hourly wage: $60.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 48#12. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $130,090
- Median hourly wage: $62.54
- Total employment: 460 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
38 / 48#11. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $135,190
- Median hourly wage: $65.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 48#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $144,050
- Median hourly wage: $69.26
- Total employment: 470 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
40 / 48#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $148,240
- Median hourly wage: $71.27
- Total employment: 320 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 48#8. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $150,250
- Median hourly wage: $72.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
42 / 48#7. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $152,440
- Median hourly wage: $73.29
- Total employment: 540 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 48#6. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $205,960
- Median hourly wage: $99.02
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 48#5. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $227,170
- Median hourly wage: $109.22
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 48#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 48#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 48#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 48#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 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.
