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1 / 46#46. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $47,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.90
- Total employment: 300 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Jackson 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 Jackson that require a graduate degree in Jackson. 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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2 / 46#45. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $49,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.66
- Total employment: 290 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 46#44. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 46#43. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $50,510
- Median hourly wage: $24.28
- Total employment: 630 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 46#42. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $54,990
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 46#41. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
7 / 46#40. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $55,660
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 680 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 46#39. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $57,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 46#38. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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10 / 46#37. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 46#36. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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12 / 46#35. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 440 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 46#34. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $61,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 440 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 46#33. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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15 / 46#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 46#31. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 46#30. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
18 / 46#29. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
19 / 46#28. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 46#27. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
21 / 46#26. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
22 / 46#25. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
23 / 46#24. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $67,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.48
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
24 / 46#23. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
25 / 46#22. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $77,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 350 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 46#21. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $78,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
27 / 46#20. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $80,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 130 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 46#19. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
29 / 46#18. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $82,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 670 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 46#17. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $94,220
- Median hourly wage: $45.30
- Total employment: 230 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 46#16. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,480
- Median hourly wage: $47.35
- Total employment: 380 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
32 / 46#15. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,230
- Median hourly wage: $49.15
- Total employment: 580 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
33 / 46#13. Lawyers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,400
- Median hourly wage: $49.71
- Total employment: 1,450 people (5.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
34 / 46#13. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,400
- Median hourly wage: $49.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
35 / 46#12. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $103,640
- Median hourly wage: $49.83
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 46#11. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $120,800
- Median hourly wage: $58.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 46#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $124,030
- Median hourly wage: $59.63
- Total employment: 940 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
38 / 46#9. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $131,780
- Median hourly wage: $63.35
- Total employment: 840 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
39 / 46#8. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $145,130
- Median hourly wage: $69.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 46#7. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $168,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,390 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 46#6. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $170,740
- Median hourly wage: $82.09
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 46#5. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $195,210
- Median hourly wage: $93.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
43 / 46#4. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $196,990
- Median hourly wage: $94.71
- Total employment: 150 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
44 / 46#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 46#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 46#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (1.5 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.
