DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $63,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque that require a graduate degree in Albuquerque. 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.
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $65,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksii Didok // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Judicial law clerks
- Median annual wage: $66,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $67,170
- Median hourly wage: $32.29
- Total employment: 360 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 310 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $71,480
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 1,110 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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fizkes // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $73,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 140 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 130 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 760 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,900
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 630 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $86,310
- Median hourly wage: $41.50
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Economists
- Median annual wage: $93,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,660
- Median hourly wage: $46.47
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $98,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 760 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $99,150
- Median hourly wage: $47.67
- Total employment: 280 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,790
- Median hourly wage: $48.46
- Total employment: 680 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,310
- Median hourly wage: $49.19
- Total employment: 460 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $104,600
- Median hourly wage: $50.29
- Total employment: 510 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,150
- Median hourly wage: $51.04
- Total employment: 380 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $111,240
- Median hourly wage: $53.48
- Total employment: 1,950 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $132,410
- Median hourly wage: $63.66
- Total employment: 180 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $135,020
- Median hourly wage: $64.91
- Total employment: 360 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,530
- Median hourly wage: $66.12
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $138,440
- Median hourly wage: $66.56
- Total employment: 1,000 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $156,110
- Median hourly wage: $75.05
- Total employment: 300 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $165,050
- Median hourly wage: $79.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $171,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,340 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $172,990
- Median hourly wage: $83.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $175,160
- Median hourly wage: $84.21
- Total employment: 360 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $180,520
- Median hourly wage: $86.79
- Total employment: 270 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $219,420
- Median hourly wage: $105.49
- Total employment: Not available
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Elnur // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $221,980
- Median hourly wage: $106.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $237,950
- Median hourly wage: $114.40
- Total employment: 160 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.5 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: 190 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 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: 800 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 363 metros.
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