DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Manchester that require a graduate degree
Earning top dollar typically requires more education than an undergraduate degree can provide. Doctors, lawyers, and professors need extra years of focused study for their chosen fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in fields like business, teaching, and public health build specialized knowledge that can fast-track a career—and one's salary.
Many hiring managers view a master's degree as the equivalent of two years of work experience, giving graduate degree holders a leg up. In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Manchester that require a graduate degree in Manchester. 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.
Job security is another benefit. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder is 2.2%, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates and professional degree holders' unemployment rate is close to 1%.
Employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, but that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median student debt has also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, some prospective students may find it difficult to justify the expense. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their degreed counterparts in humanities and the arts. A graduate degree in humanities also only brought a 10% earnings premium over someone with a bachelor's degree.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Manchester metro area
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $51,710
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 1,190 people (5.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $52,510
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 160 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 150 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Manchester for high school graduates
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 300 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Desizned // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Political scientists
- Median annual wage: $63,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 540 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Manchester
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $73,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.50
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 170 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 240 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Manchester
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How long does it take to sell a house in Manchester in 2026?
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,980
- Median hourly wage: $39.41
- Total employment: 320 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Manchester that don't require a college degree
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,190
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 330 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,280
- Median hourly wage: $47.25
- Total employment: 450 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $100,740
- Median hourly wage: $48.43
- Total employment: 90 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Manchester
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $100,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 380 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $119,990
- Median hourly wage: $57.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $120,700
- Median hourly wage: $58.03
- Total employment: 770 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $121,780
- Median hourly wage: $58.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $124,480
- Median hourly wage: $59.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How many homes are for sale in Manchester right now?
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $124,990
- Median hourly wage: $60.09
- Total employment: 200 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $125,600
- Median hourly wage: $60.39
- Total employment: 130 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $133,510
- Median hourly wage: $64.19
- Total employment: 540 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $133,870
- Median hourly wage: $64.36
- Total employment: 310 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,560
- Median hourly wage: $66.13
- Total employment: 300 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Manchester by diners
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $214,260
- Median hourly wage: $103.01
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $238,630
- Median hourly wage: $114.73
- Total employment: 200 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 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: 130 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Manchester in 2026?
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 220 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.32 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 363 metros.
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Manchester?
