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1 / 50#50. Survey researchers
- Median annual wage: $77,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor that require a graduate degree in Ann Arbor. 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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DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 410 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
indukas // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $79,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 90 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 90 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,840
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 300 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $80,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 850 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $83,900
- Median hourly wage: $40.34
- Total employment: 300 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $89,250
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 250 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Curators
- Median annual wage: $97,090
- Median hourly wage: $46.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $97,140
- Median hourly wage: $46.70
- Total employment: 110 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $103,660
- Median hourly wage: $49.84
- Total employment: 480 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Desizned // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Political scientists
- Median annual wage: $105,300
- Median hourly wage: $50.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $106,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $110,510
- Median hourly wage: $53.13
- Total employment: 120 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Economists
- Median annual wage: $120,410
- Median hourly wage: $57.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $122,510
- Median hourly wage: $58.90
- Total employment: 690 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $126,840
- Median hourly wage: $60.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $130,170
- Median hourly wage: $62.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $132,450
- Median hourly wage: $63.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $133,160
- Median hourly wage: $64.02
- Total employment: 590 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 730 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 710 people (3.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $136,350
- Median hourly wage: $65.56
- Total employment: 470 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $137,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $138,900
- Median hourly wage: $66.78
- Total employment: 790 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $161,420
- Median hourly wage: $77.61
- Total employment: 620 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $176,310
- Median hourly wage: $84.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $230,940
- Median hourly wage: $111.03
- Total employment: 2,380 people (10.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $233,740
- Median hourly wage: $112.37
- Total employment: 90 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $234,760
- Median hourly wage: $112.87
- Total employment: 140 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 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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