Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 46#46. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $39,670
- Median hourly wage: $19.07
- Total employment: 240 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Duluth 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 Duluth that require a graduate degree in Duluth. 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 / 46#45. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $51,210
- Median hourly wage: $24.62
- Total employment: 500 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 46#44. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
4 / 46#43. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $58,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 300 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
5 / 46#42. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
6 / 46#41. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
7 / 46#40. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 46#39. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
9 / 46#38. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 170 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
10 / 46#37. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 46#36. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 46#35. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
13 / 46#34. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
14 / 46#33. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $67,020
- Median hourly wage: $32.22
- Total employment: 210 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
15 / 46#32. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $67,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 46#31. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $69,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 46#30. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
18 / 46#29. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $72,480
- Median hourly wage: $34.84
- Total employment: 130 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 46#28. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $73,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 46#27. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
21 / 46#26. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
22 / 46#25. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $78,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 150 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
23 / 46#24. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $78,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 70 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 46#23. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
25 / 46#22. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $81,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SeventyFour // Shutterstock
26 / 46#21. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
27 / 46#20. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 180 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 46#19. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $88,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
29 / 46#18. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,980
- Median hourly wage: $42.78
- Total employment: 270 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
30 / 46#17. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 46#16. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $91,560
- Median hourly wage: $44.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
32 / 46#15. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $94,040
- Median hourly wage: $45.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 46#14. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,420
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 130 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
34 / 46#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $100,700
- Median hourly wage: $48.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
35 / 46#12. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
36 / 46#11. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $111,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 46#10. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $118,860
- Median hourly wage: $57.15
- Total employment: 300 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 46#9. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $128,940
- Median hourly wage: $61.99
- Total employment: 450 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
39 / 46#8. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,670
- Median hourly wage: $62.34
- Total employment: 220 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 46#7. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $139,290
- Median hourly wage: $66.96
- Total employment: 290 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
41 / 46#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $184,430
- Median hourly wage: $88.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 46#5. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $216,180
- Median hourly wage: $103.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 46#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
44 / 46#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
45 / 46#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
46 / 46#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 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.
