Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
1 / 49#49. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $44,940
- Median hourly wage: $21.61
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Asheville 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 Asheville that require a graduate degree in Asheville. 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 / 49#48. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $45,260
- Median hourly wage: $21.76
- Total employment: 200 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
3 / 49#47. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $48,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 49#46. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $50,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 49#45. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $53,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.50
- Total employment: 270 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
6 / 49#44. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.88
- Total employment: 340 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
7 / 49#43. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $55,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 49#42. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $56,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
9 / 49#41. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 630 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
10 / 49#40. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 49#39. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
12 / 49#38. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
13 / 49#37. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 49#36. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 49#35. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
16 / 49#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $63,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
17 / 49#33. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $63,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.37
- Total employment: 300 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
18 / 49#32. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 49#31. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 49#30. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
21 / 49#29. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $65,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 49#28. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $67,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 49#27. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $69,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 49#26. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $70,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
25 / 49#25. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $70,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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KSai23 // Shutterstock
26 / 49#24. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
27 / 49#23. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $79,590
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 280 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
28 / 49#22. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $79,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
29 / 49#21. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
30 / 49#20. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $87,370
- Median hourly wage: $42.01
- Total employment: 240 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 49#19. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,660
- Median hourly wage: $43.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
32 / 49#18. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.50
- Total employment: 340 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
33 / 49#17. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $100,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.40
- Total employment: 130 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
34 / 49#16. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $105,660
- Median hourly wage: $50.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
35 / 49#15. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $117,420
- Median hourly wage: $56.45
- Total employment: 600 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 49#14. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $119,700
- Median hourly wage: $57.55
- Total employment: 440 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
37 / 49#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $125,650
- Median hourly wage: $60.41
- Total employment: 180 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 49#12. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $129,600
- Median hourly wage: $62.31
- Total employment: 460 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 49#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $135,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.22
- Total employment: 490 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 49#10. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $149,990
- Median hourly wage: $72.11
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
41 / 49#9. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $169,720
- Median hourly wage: $81.60
- Total employment: 100 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 49#8. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $187,480
- Median hourly wage: $90.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 49#7. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $187,560
- Median hourly wage: $90.17
- Total employment: 210 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
44 / 49#6. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $210,790
- Median hourly wage: $101.34
- Total employment: 110 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 49#5. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $221,170
- Median hourly wage: $106.33
- Total employment: 300 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 49#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 49#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 720 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
48 / 49#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 49#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 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.
