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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 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 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.
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.
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
32 / 50#18. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $91,240
- Median hourly wage: $43.87
- Total employment: Not available
KSai23 // Shutterstock
33 / 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)
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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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 363 metros.
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