Juri Pozzi // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Acupuncturists
- Median annual wage: $74,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Raleigh 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 Raleigh that require a graduate degree in Raleigh. 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: Lowest-paying jobs in Raleigh
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $74,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Anthropologists and archeologists
- Median annual wage: $74,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: Not available
VH-studio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $76,610
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 160 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Raleigh
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,650
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Raleigh metro area
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $80,230
- Median hourly wage: $38.57
- Total employment: 320 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $82,280
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 780 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $82,770
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Raleigh
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $92,770
- Median hourly wage: $44.60
- Total employment: 890 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $93,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.12
- Total employment: 1,100 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $94,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,620 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Economists
- Median annual wage: $97,600
- Median hourly wage: $46.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Raleigh October 2025
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $99,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.02
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Raleigh
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $102,470
- Median hourly wage: $49.26
- Total employment: 1,000 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,950
- Median hourly wage: $50.94
- Total employment: Not available
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $111,440
- Median hourly wage: $53.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $117,060
- Median hourly wage: $56.28
- Total employment: 610 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Bib Gourmand restaurants in Raleigh
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $124,490
- Median hourly wage: $59.85
- Total employment: Not available
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $124,980
- Median hourly wage: $60.09
- Total employment: 530 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $125,710
- Median hourly wage: $60.44
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $128,130
- Median hourly wage: $61.60
- Total employment: 4,340 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,320
- Median hourly wage: $63.14
- Total employment: 1,040 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Raleigh area by diners
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $136,340
- Median hourly wage: $65.55
- Total employment: 330 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $139,170
- Median hourly wage: $66.91
- Total employment: 1,470 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $147,830
- Median hourly wage: $71.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Raleigh metro area
Kzenon // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $153,730
- Median hourly wage: $73.91
- Total employment: 320 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $179,960
- Median hourly wage: $86.52
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $182,020
- Median hourly wage: $87.51
- Total employment: 1,090 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $200,290
- Median hourly wage: $96.30
- Total employment: 300 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $216,810
- Median hourly wage: $104.24
- Total employment: 210 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Raleigh
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $232,120
- Median hourly wage: $111.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,330 people (1.83 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: 60 people (0.08 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: The most expensive homes sold in Raleigh this year
