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1 / 47#47. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $46,480
- Median hourly wage: $22.34
- Total employment: 90 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Springfield 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 Springfield that require a graduate degree in Springfield. 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 / 47#46. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $47,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.97
- Total employment: 190 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 47#45. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $47,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 790 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 / 47#44. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $48,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 180 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 47#43. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $50,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 710 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 47#42. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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7 / 47#41. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $53,480
- Median hourly wage: $25.71
- Total employment: 400 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 47#40. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 47#39. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 47#38. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 47#37. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 47#36. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 290 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 47#35. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 47#34. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $68,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 47#33. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $74,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.79
- Total employment: 210 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 47#32. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
17 / 47#31. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $76,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 47#30. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
19 / 47#29. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 47#28. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 47#27. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 47#26. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
23 / 47#25. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
24 / 47#24. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 47#23. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 47#22. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $82,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
27 / 47#21. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 47#20. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 47#19. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 47#18. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 47#17. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $87,020
- Median hourly wage: $41.84
- Total employment: 180 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
32 / 47#16. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $88,000
- Median hourly wage: $42.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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33 / 47#15. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $89,170
- Median hourly wage: $42.87
- Total employment: 130 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
34 / 47#14. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $89,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.00
- Total employment: 290 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 47#13. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $95,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 500 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 47#12. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $97,710
- Median hourly wage: $46.98
- Total employment: 760 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 47#11. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,720
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Total employment: 320 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
38 / 47#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $105,930
- Median hourly wage: $50.93
- Total employment: 160 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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39 / 47#9. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $119,070
- Median hourly wage: $57.24
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 47#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $122,220
- Median hourly wage: $58.76
- Total employment: 520 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 47#7. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $126,070
- Median hourly wage: $60.61
- Total employment: 180 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
42 / 47#6. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,810
- Median hourly wage: $66.26
- Total employment: 680 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
43 / 47#5. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $156,210
- Median hourly wage: $75.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
44 / 47#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $198,440
- Median hourly wage: $95.40
- Total employment: 200 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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45 / 47#3. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $201,480
- Median hourly wage: $96.86
- Total employment: 140 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 47#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 47#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.79 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.
