Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $87,530
- Median hourly wage: $42.08
- Total employment: 140 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Detroit 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 Detroit that require a graduate degree in Detroit. 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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2 / 50#49. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $89,300
- Median hourly wage: $42.93
- Total employment: 210 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $92,620
- Median hourly wage: $44.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $97,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 170 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,800
- Median hourly wage: $47.50
- Total employment: 1,340 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,300
- Median hourly wage: $48.22
- Total employment: 3,580 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $107,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,720 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $114,440
- Median hourly wage: $55.02
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $125,820
- Median hourly wage: $60.49
- Total employment: 120 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $126,110
- Median hourly wage: $60.63
- Total employment: 3,850 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $127,100
- Median hourly wage: $61.11
- Total employment: 830 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $127,170
- Median hourly wage: $61.14
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $128,060
- Median hourly wage: $61.57
- Total employment: 9,460 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $131,290
- Median hourly wage: $63.12
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $135,300
- Median hourly wage: $65.05
- Total employment: 2,010 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $136,050
- Median hourly wage: $65.41
- Total employment: 590 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $136,540
- Median hourly wage: $65.64
- Total employment: 4,820 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $179,130
- Median hourly wage: $86.12
- Total employment: 1,950 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $182,040
- Median hourly wage: $87.52
- Total employment: 350 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $188,400
- Median hourly wage: $90.58
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $218,340
- Median hourly wage: $104.97
- Total employment: 2,470 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $230,060
- Median hourly wage: $110.61
- Total employment: 730 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $230,450
- Median hourly wage: $110.79
- Total employment: 1,590 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 260 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 810 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 330 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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: 240 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Tijana Simic // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 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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