Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#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)
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.
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
2 / 50#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)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
3 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#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)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
5 / 50#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)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#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)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
7 / 50#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)
fizkes // Shutterstock
8 / 50#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)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
9 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#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)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
11 / 50#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)
Petekub // Shutterstock
12 / 50#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)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
13 / 50#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)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#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)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
15 / 50#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)
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I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
16 / 50#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)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
17 / 50#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)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
18 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 50#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)
Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock
20 / 50#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)
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antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
21 / 50#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)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
22 / 50#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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#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)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#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)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $129,990
- Median hourly wage: $62.50
- Total employment: Not available
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Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
26 / 50#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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#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)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#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)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#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)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
30 / 50#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)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#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)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
32 / 50#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)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
33 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
34 / 50#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)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#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)
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indukas // Shutterstock
36 / 50#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)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#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)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
38 / 50#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)
Elnur // Shutterstock
39 / 50#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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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Djols // Shutterstock
41 / 50#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)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
42 / 50#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)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 50#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)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
44 / 50#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)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 50#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)
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
46 / 50#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)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
48 / 50#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)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#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)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 220 people (0.11 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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