Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $45,330
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 110 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem that require a graduate degree in Winston-Salem. 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: Highest-paying jobs in Winston-Salem that require a graduate degree
DGLimages // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 140 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $53,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $53,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 400 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $54,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 580 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Winston-Salem by diners
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.90
- Total employment: 210 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $62,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 410 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Winston-Salem
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Winston-Salem are looking to buy homes
DGLimages // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 350 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Winston-Salem
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,840
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $80,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.79
- Total employment: 100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Winston-Salem area by diners
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $82,400
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $82,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.72
- Total employment: 400 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $83,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $84,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 580 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated chicken wings in Winston-Salem by diners
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $88,570
- Median hourly wage: $42.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
32 / 50#18. Chiropractors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $91,240
- Median hourly wage: $43.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $91,240
- Median hourly wage: $43.87
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $94,420
- Median hourly wage: $45.39
- Total employment: 390 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $95,210
- Median hourly wage: $45.77
- Total employment: 250 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Winston-Salem area by visitors
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $95,390
- Median hourly wage: $45.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 410 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $121,230
- Median hourly wage: $58.28
- Total employment: 980 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $124,090
- Median hourly wage: $59.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $124,650
- Median hourly wage: $59.93
- Total employment: 140 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Winston-Salem and surrounding regions
Stokkete // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $131,570
- Median hourly wage: $63.26
- Total employment: 800 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $132,790
- Median hourly wage: $63.84
- Total employment: 680 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $134,960
- Median hourly wage: $64.89
- Total employment: 270 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,340 people (4.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,490
- Median hourly wage: $66.10
- Total employment: 1,020 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Winston-Salem area
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $162,020
- Median hourly wage: $77.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $162,090
- Median hourly wage: $77.93
- Total employment: 90 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $236,370
- Median hourly wage: $113.64
- Total employment: 280 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 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: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Winston-Salem by diners
