Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $112,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,670 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in New York City 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 New York City that require a graduate degree in New York City. 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.
You may also like: Best high schools in the New York City metro area
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $117,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,730 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $121,470
- Median hourly wage: $58.40
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,800 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 15,610 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in New York City
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 15,040 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $126,330
- Median hourly wage: $60.74
- Total employment: 16,820 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,660 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $128,500
- Median hourly wage: $61.78
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,750 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Tex-Mex restaurants in New York City by diners
Aodaodaodaod // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $130,180
- Median hourly wage: $62.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,190 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $130,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,270 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,180 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $132,790
- Median hourly wage: $63.84
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in New York City
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,720
- Median hourly wage: $65.25
- Total employment: 22,010 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,880
- Median hourly wage: $65.81
- Total employment: 6,820 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $138,980
- Median hourly wage: $66.82
- Total employment: 400 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $140,610
- Median hourly wage: $67.60
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $152,790
- Median hourly wage: $73.46
- Total employment: 19,850 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in New York City
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $154,350
- Median hourly wage: $74.21
- Total employment: 2,930 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50#28. Pediatricians, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: $155,570
- Median hourly wage: $74.79
- Total employment: 5,340 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $155,570
- Median hourly wage: $74.79
- Total employment: 10,410 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $157,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $157,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 20,840 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the New York City metro area
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $159,990
- Median hourly wage: $76.92
- Total employment: 6,940 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $160,520
- Median hourly wage: $77.17
- Total employment: 2,410 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $163,540
- Median hourly wage: $78.63
- Total employment: 15,550 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $166,080
- Median hourly wage: $79.85
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Economists
- Median annual wage: $168,850
- Median hourly wage: $81.18
- Total employment: 730 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much it costs to park at LaGuardia Airport
indukas // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $177,490
- Median hourly wage: $85.33
- Total employment: 960 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $196,190
- Median hourly wage: $94.32
- Total employment: 1,390 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $203,450
- Median hourly wage: $97.81
- Total employment: 93,730 people (10.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Neurologists
- Median annual wage: $214,820
- Median hourly wage: $103.28
- Total employment: 920 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Surgeons, all other
- Median annual wage: $215,640
- Median hourly wage: $103.67
- Total employment: 4,130 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in New York City
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physicians, pathologists
- Median annual wage: $216,420
- Median hourly wage: $104.05
- Total employment: 900 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Radiologists
- Median annual wage: $219,900
- Median hourly wage: $105.72
- Total employment: 1,870 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $229,630
- Median hourly wage: $110.40
- Total employment: 3,680 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $230,130
- Median hourly wage: $110.64
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,890 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: New York City's 2025 housing market year in review
Djols // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,810 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 6,590 people (0.7 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: 2,820 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,830 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 870 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in New York City in 2026?
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,500 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,250 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
beerkoff // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Pediatric surgeons (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 14,230 people (1.52 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in New York City by diners
