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 typically requires more education than an undergraduate degree can provide. Doctors, lawyers, and professors need extra years of focused study for their chosen fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in fields like business, teaching, and public health build specialized knowledge that can fast-track a career—and one's salary.
Many hiring managers view a master's degree as the equivalent of two years of work experience, giving graduate degree holders a leg up. In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.
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.
Job security is another benefit. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder is 2.2%, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Doctorates and professional degree holders' unemployment rate is close to 1%.
Employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, but that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median student debt has also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.
Depending on the career field, some prospective students may find it difficult to justify the expense. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their degreed counterparts in humanities and the arts. A graduate degree in humanities also only brought a 10% earnings premium over someone with a bachelor's degree.
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Raleigh area by visitors
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: The most expensive neighborhoods 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: Highest-paying jobs in Raleigh that require a graduate degree
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: What salary do I need to afford a house in Raleigh in 2026?
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: Highest-rated Cajun restaurants in Raleigh by diners
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-rated Tex-Mex restaurants in Raleigh by diners
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: Top 25 songs in Raleigh on Shazam in the past week
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: Most expensive homes for sale in Raleigh
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: Highest-rated chicken wings in Raleigh by diners
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: Raleigh's 2025 housing market year in review
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)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
49 / 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)
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: 1,330 people (1.83 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 363 metros.
You may also like: Top 10 Cities to Rent an Apartment: Raleigh, North Carolina
