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1 / 50#50. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $86,130
- Median hourly wage: $41.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo 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 Buffalo that require a graduate degree in Buffalo. 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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2 / 50#49. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,340
- Median hourly wage: $42.47
- Total employment: 1,200 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $88,380
- Median hourly wage: $42.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $94,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $95,290
- Median hourly wage: $45.81
- Total employment: 250 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. Architecture teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $97,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $97,030
- Median hourly wage: $46.65
- Total employment: 300 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,090 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $97,960
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 1,720 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $100,490
- Median hourly wage: $48.31
- Total employment: Not available
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $110,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 950 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $111,570
- Median hourly wage: $53.64
- Total employment: 2,710 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $114,430
- Median hourly wage: $55.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $116,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $117,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $120,910
- Median hourly wage: $58.13
- Total employment: 1,200 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $124,990
- Median hourly wage: $60.09
- Total employment: Not available
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26 / 50#25. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $128,220
- Median hourly wage: $61.65
- Total employment: 200 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $130,620
- Median hourly wage: $62.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,910
- Median hourly wage: $63.42
- Total employment: 380 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $133,430
- Median hourly wage: $64.15
- Total employment: 1,300 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,410
- Median hourly wage: $65.10
- Total employment: 1,580 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $146,190
- Median hourly wage: $70.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $148,700
- Median hourly wage: $71.49
- Total employment: 450 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $160,390
- Median hourly wage: $77.11
- Total employment: 170 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $161,230
- Median hourly wage: $77.51
- Total employment: 220 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $169,710
- Median hourly wage: $81.59
- Total employment: 170 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $175,220
- Median hourly wage: $84.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Surgeons, all other
- Median annual wage: $207,430
- Median hourly wage: $99.73
- Total employment: 120 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $208,420
- Median hourly wage: $100.20
- Total employment: 170 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $224,260
- Median hourly wage: $107.82
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $229,040
- Median hourly wage: $110.12
- Total employment: 440 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $238,530
- Median hourly wage: $114.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 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: 100 people (0.18 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.
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