Highest-paying Jobs in Charlotte That Require a Graduate Degree

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Highest-paying jobs in Charlotte 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 Charlotte that require a graduate degree in Charlotte. 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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#50. Geography teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

#49. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $81,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,560 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#48. Economics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $81,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SeventyFour // Shutterstock

#47. History teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $82,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#46. Audiologists

- Median annual wage: $83,520
- Median hourly wage: $40.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Orthotists and prosthetists

- Median annual wage: $84,770
- Median hourly wage: $40.76
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#44. Architecture teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $84,920
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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KSai23 // Shutterstock

#43. Chiropractors

- Median annual wage: $88,410
- Median hourly wage: $42.51
- Total employment: 290 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#42. Clinical and counseling psychologists

- Median annual wage: $91,030
- Median hourly wage: $43.76
- Total employment: Not available

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#41. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other

- Median annual wage: $93,810
- Median hourly wage: $45.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#40. Genetic counselors

- Median annual wage: $94,000
- Median hourly wage: $45.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#39. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $94,750
- Median hourly wage: $45.55
- Total employment: 930 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#38. Speech-language pathologists

- Median annual wage: $99,390
- Median hourly wage: $47.79
- Total employment: 1,410 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#37. Political science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $99,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#36. Physical therapists

- Median annual wage: $100,310
- Median hourly wage: $48.23
- Total employment: 1,930 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#35. Economists

- Median annual wage: $100,610
- Median hourly wage: $48.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#34. Computer and information research scientists

- Median annual wage: $100,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.40
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#33. Occupational therapists

- Median annual wage: $101,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.96
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#32. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $102,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#31. Biochemists and biophysicists

- Median annual wage: $103,180
- Median hourly wage: $49.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#30. Physics teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $104,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock

#29. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $106,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pheelings media // Shutterstock

#28. Statisticians

- Median annual wage: $120,510
- Median hourly wage: $57.94
- Total employment: 140 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

#27. Veterinarians

- Median annual wage: $122,430
- Median hourly wage: $58.86
- Total employment: 760 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#26. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists

- Median annual wage: $125,420
- Median hourly wage: $60.30
- Total employment: 300 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#25. Nurse practitioners

- Median annual wage: $130,650
- Median hourly wage: $62.81
- Total employment: 1,530 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#24. Physician assistants

- Median annual wage: $132,110
- Median hourly wage: $63.52
- Total employment: 2,500 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#23. Nurse midwives

- Median annual wage: $135,420
- Median hourly wage: $65.11
- Total employment: 100 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#22. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers

- Median annual wage: $137,240
- Median hourly wage: $65.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#21. Lawyers

- Median annual wage: $137,270
- Median hourly wage: $65.99
- Total employment: 5,290 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

#20. Pharmacists

- Median annual wage: $139,950
- Median hourly wage: $67.28
- Total employment: 2,670 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#19. Psychologists, all other

- Median annual wage: $140,000
- Median hourly wage: $67.31
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kzenon // Shutterstock

#18. Optometrists

- Median annual wage: $154,700
- Median hourly wage: $74.38
- Total employment: 330 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#17. Emergency medicine physicians

- Median annual wage: $172,640
- Median hourly wage: $83.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#16. Dentists, general

- Median annual wage: $192,580
- Median hourly wage: $92.59
- Total employment: 820 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#15. Nurse anesthetists

- Median annual wage: $238,780
- Median hourly wage: $114.80
- Total employment: 980 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available

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BlurryMe // Shutterstock

#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 420 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#1. Dermatologists (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock

#1. Physicians, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,160 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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