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1 / 50#50. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $79,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 550 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Syracuse 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 Syracuse that require a graduate degree in Syracuse. 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.
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2 / 50#49. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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3 / 50#48. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.39
- Total employment: 460 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: 260 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $84,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.67
- Total employment: 500 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $84,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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10 / 50#41. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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12 / 50#39. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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15 / 50#34. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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16 / 50#34. Postsecondary teachers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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17 / 50#34. Engineering teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,850
- Median hourly wage: $42.72
- Total employment: 660 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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22 / 50#29. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $96,190
- Median hourly wage: $46.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $106,860
- Median hourly wage: $51.38
- Total employment: 140 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $110,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 720 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $114,430
- Median hourly wage: $55.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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28 / 50#23. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $114,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $119,140
- Median hourly wage: $57.28
- Total employment: 1,200 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,680
- Median hourly wage: $60.91
- Total employment: Not available
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31 / 50#20. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $127,030
- Median hourly wage: $61.07
- Total employment: 880 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $127,800
- Median hourly wage: $61.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,720
- Median hourly wage: $62.37
- Total employment: 710 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $144,270
- Median hourly wage: $69.36
- Total employment: 680 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $150,910
- Median hourly wage: $72.56
- Total employment: 210 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $151,400
- Median hourly wage: $72.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $153,890
- Median hourly wage: $73.99
- Total employment: 150 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $163,400
- Median hourly wage: $78.56
- Total employment: 120 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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39 / 50#12. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $178,590
- Median hourly wage: $85.86
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $190,110
- Median hourly wage: $91.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Emergency medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $203,470
- Median hourly wage: $97.82
- Total employment: 100 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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42 / 50#9. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $220,990
- Median hourly wage: $106.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $226,560
- Median hourly wage: $108.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 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.
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