Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Trenton 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 Trenton that require a graduate degree in Trenton. 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: How much house $1 million buys you in Trenton
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
DGLimages // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $79,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.98
- Total employment: 260 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Trenton metro area
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Trenton by diners
Petekub // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Economists
- Median annual wage: $83,990
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $84,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.48
- Total employment: 350 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $89,030
- Median hourly wage: $42.80
- Total employment: 350 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $91,280
- Median hourly wage: $43.89
- Total employment: 290 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Trenton
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $94,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,730
- Median hourly wage: $46.98
- Total employment: 190 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $98,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Trenton
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $99,440
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $100,160
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 360 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
luchschenF // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $103,100
- Median hourly wage: $49.57
- Total employment: 440 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Trenton by diners
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $103,830
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Total employment: 280 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $105,830
- Median hourly wage: $50.88
- Total employment: 30 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $107,020
- Median hourly wage: $51.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $113,860
- Median hourly wage: $54.74
- Total employment: 90 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Trenton by diners
fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $125,700
- Median hourly wage: $60.43
- Total employment: 140 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $126,990
- Median hourly wage: $61.05
- Total employment: 850 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $130,330
- Median hourly wage: $62.66
- Total employment: 2,100 people (8.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Trenton that don't require a college degree
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $134,170
- Median hourly wage: $64.50
- Total employment: 390 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $135,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $137,400
- Median hourly wage: $66.06
- Total employment: 110 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $137,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $139,430
- Median hourly wage: $67.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Trenton metro area
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $142,200
- Median hourly wage: $68.36
- Total employment: 450 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $143,760
- Median hourly wage: $69.12
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $177,360
- Median hourly wage: $85.27
- Total employment: 90 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Survey researchers
- Median annual wage: $180,060
- Median hourly wage: $86.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $187,200
- Median hourly wage: $90.00
- Total employment: 190 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in Trenton by diners
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $200,150
- Median hourly wage: $96.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $204,420
- Median hourly wage: $98.28
- Total employment: 140 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.32 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: 230 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 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 many homes are for sale in Trenton right now?
