DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 33#33. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $59,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Mankato 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 Mankato that require a graduate degree in Mankato. 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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VH-studio // Shutterstock
2 / 33#32. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 100 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 33#31. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 440 people (7.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 33#30. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
5 / 33#29. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $73,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 33#28. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $73,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
7 / 33#27. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
8 / 33#26. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $74,950
- Median hourly wage: $36.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 33#25. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 33#24. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 33#23. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
DGLimages // Shutterstock
12 / 33#22. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $77,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 33#21. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 33#20. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
DGLimages // Shutterstock
15 / 33#19. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 90 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 33#18. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
17 / 33#17. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $79,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 60 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 33#16. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,020
- Median hourly wage: $38.95
- Total employment: 130 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
19 / 33#15. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $84,430
- Median hourly wage: $40.59
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
20 / 33#14. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
21 / 33#13. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,960
- Median hourly wage: $48.54
- Total employment: 100 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 33#12. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,550
- Median hourly wage: $48.82
- Total employment: Not available
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
23 / 33#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $104,190
- Median hourly wage: $50.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
24 / 33#10. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $111,320
- Median hourly wage: $53.52
- Total employment: 30 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 33#9. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $115,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
26 / 33#8. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $124,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
27 / 33#7. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $126,450
- Median hourly wage: $60.79
- Total employment: 130 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 33#6. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $135,190
- Median hourly wage: $65.00
- Total employment: 140 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
29 / 33#5. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $137,170
- Median hourly wage: $65.95
- Total employment: 80 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
30 / 33#4. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $153,140
- Median hourly wage: $73.63
- Total employment: 90 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
31 / 33#3. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $196,390
- Median hourly wage: $94.42
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
32 / 33#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
33 / 33#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- 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 364 metros.
