Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 35#35. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $46,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Flint 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 Flint that require a graduate degree in Flint. 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 / 35#34. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $48,180
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 300 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 35#33. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 35#32. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $59,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 280 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 35#31. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 35#30. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 260 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 35#29. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 35#28. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
9 / 35#27. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $68,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 210 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
10 / 35#26. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $68,780
- Median hourly wage: $33.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 35#25. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $72,230
- Median hourly wage: $34.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 35#24. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 190 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
13 / 35#23. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $79,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
14 / 35#22. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $80,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
15 / 35#21. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $82,340
- Median hourly wage: $39.59
- Total employment: 130 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 35#20. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
17 / 35#19. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $83,890
- Median hourly wage: $40.33
- Total employment: 180 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 35#18. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 35#17. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
20 / 35#16. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 35#15. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,430
- Median hourly wage: $46.84
- Total employment: 270 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 35#14. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $101,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 35#13. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 35#12. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,780
- Median hourly wage: $51.34
- Total employment: 120 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
25 / 35#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $109,990
- Median hourly wage: $52.88
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 35#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $121,630
- Median hourly wage: $58.47
- Total employment: 340 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
27 / 35#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $124,200
- Median hourly wage: $59.71
- Total employment: 250 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
28 / 35#8. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $130,220
- Median hourly wage: $62.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
29 / 35#7. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $132,960
- Median hourly wage: $63.93
- Total employment: 290 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 35#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $178,900
- Median hourly wage: $86.01
- Total employment: 200 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 35#5. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $220,990
- Median hourly wage: $106.24
- Total employment: 270 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 35#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $222,830
- Median hourly wage: $107.13
- Total employment: 160 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
33 / 35#3. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $225,460
- Median hourly wage: $108.40
- Total employment: 300 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
34 / 35#2. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $232,110
- Median hourly wage: $111.59
- Total employment: 140 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
35 / 35#1. Surgeons, all other
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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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