Highest-paying Jobs in Minneapolis That Require a Graduate Degree

insta_photos // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis that require a graduate degree in Minneapolis. 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.

You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Minneapolis by diners

1 / 50

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#50. Epidemiologists

- Median annual wage: $99,360
- Median hourly wage: $47.77
- Total employment: 250 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

2 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#49. Political science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $99,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

3 / 50

Chad McDermott // Shutterstock

#48. Urban and regional planners

- Median annual wage: $99,510
- Median hourly wage: $47.84
- Total employment: 510 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#47. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $99,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,730 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

5 / 50

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#46. Audiologists

- Median annual wage: $99,770
- Median hourly wage: $47.96
- Total employment: 210 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis

6 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#45. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other

- Median annual wage: $100,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

7 / 50

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#44. Economics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $102,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

8 / 50

fizkes // Shutterstock

#43. Clinical and counseling psychologists

- Median annual wage: $103,510
- Median hourly wage: $49.76
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

9 / 50

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#42. Geography teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $103,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

10 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#41. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $104,760
- Median hourly wage: $50.37
- Total employment: 1,390 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis that require a bachelor's degree

11 / 50

BlurryMe // Shutterstock

#40. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other

- Median annual wage: $106,060
- Median hourly wage: $50.99
- Total employment: 300 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

12 / 50

Petekub // Shutterstock

#39. Economists

- Median annual wage: $108,230
- Median hourly wage: $52.03
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

13 / 50

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#38. Psychologists, all other

- Median annual wage: $115,850
- Median hourly wage: $55.70
- Total employment: 270 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

14 / 50

KSai23 // Shutterstock

#37. Chiropractors

- Median annual wage: $117,830
- Median hourly wage: $56.65
- Total employment: 660 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

15 / 50

ESB Professional // Shutterstock

#36. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $118,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Minneapolis metro area

16 / 50

I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock

#35. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $122,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

17 / 50

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#34. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $123,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

18 / 50

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

#33. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $124,660
- Median hourly wage: $59.93
- Total employment: 1,410 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

19 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#32. Physics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $125,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

20 / 50

Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock

#31. Acupuncturists

- Median annual wage: $126,600
- Median hourly wage: $60.87
- Total employment: 130 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Minneapolis metro area

21 / 50

antoniodiaz // Shutterstock

#30. Nurse midwives

- Median annual wage: $127,160
- Median hourly wage: $61.13
- Total employment: 180 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

22 / 50

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

#29. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $127,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

23 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#28. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $128,570
- Median hourly wage: $61.81
- Total employment: 5,680 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

24 / 50

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#27. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $128,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,870 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

25 / 50

Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

#26. Dentists, all other specialists

- Median annual wage: $129,990
- Median hourly wage: $62.50
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Minneapolis area by diners

26 / 50

Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock

#25. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

- Median annual wage: $131,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.13
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

27 / 50

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#24. Computer and information research scientists

- Median annual wage: $131,810
- Median hourly wage: $63.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

28 / 50

Stokkete // Shutterstock

#23. Physician assistants

- Median annual wage: $140,610
- Median hourly wage: $67.60
- Total employment: 2,340 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

29 / 50

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#22. Lawyers

- Median annual wage: $150,110
- Median hourly wage: $72.17
- Total employment: 10,650 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

30 / 50

Kzenon // Shutterstock

#21. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $155,310
- Median hourly wage: $74.67
- Total employment: 450 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Minneapolis by diners

31 / 50

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#20. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $156,060
- Median hourly wage: $75.03
- Total employment: 3,960 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

32 / 50

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#19. Law teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $165,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

33 / 50

Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock

#18. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates

- Median annual wage: $182,790
- Median hourly wage: $87.88
- Total employment: 330 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

34 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#17. Pediatricians, general

- Median annual wage: $206,940
- Median hourly wage: $99.49
- Total employment: 590 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

35 / 50

Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

#16. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $209,870
- Median hourly wage: $100.90
- Total employment: 1,860 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Minneapolis by diners

36 / 50

indukas // Shutterstock

#15. Physicists

- Median annual wage: $215,340
- Median hourly wage: $103.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

37 / 50

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#14. Nurse anesthetists

- Median annual wage: $233,030
- Median hourly wage: $112.03
- Total employment: 1,700 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

38 / 50

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

39 / 50

Elnur // Shutterstock

#1. Podiatrists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

40 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis for high school graduates

41 / 50

Djols // Shutterstock

#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 620 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

42 / 50

Photoroyalty // Shutterstock

#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 420 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

43 / 50

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,500 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

44 / 50

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#1. Psychiatrists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 340 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

45 / 50

BlurryMe // Shutterstock

#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best public high schools in the Minneapolis metro area

46 / 50

4 PM production // Shutterstock

#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

47 / 50

create jobs 51 // Shutterstock

#1. Neurologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

48 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

49 / 50

wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock

#1. Physicians, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,640 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)