Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,260 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Columbus 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 Columbus that require a graduate degree in Columbus. 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. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 840 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $79,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.10
- Total employment: 1,000 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Sociologists
- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,120
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $83,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $88,780
- Median hourly wage: $42.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $90,050
- Median hourly wage: $43.29
- Total employment: 1,550 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $92,410
- Median hourly wage: $44.43
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $94,770
- Median hourly wage: $45.56
- Total employment: 1,330 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,500
- Median hourly wage: $47.36
- Total employment: 1,420 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $99,110
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 290 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $101,390
- Median hourly wage: $48.74
- Total employment: 2,020 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $102,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,850 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $107,500
- Median hourly wage: $51.68
- Total employment: 510 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $108,460
- Median hourly wage: $52.14
- Total employment: 280 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $123,970
- Median hourly wage: $59.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $127,020
- Median hourly wage: $61.07
- Total employment: 2,920 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $127,720
- Median hourly wage: $61.41
- Total employment: 690 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $128,650
- Median hourly wage: $61.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,730
- Median hourly wage: $62.85
- Total employment: 850 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $132,280
- Median hourly wage: $63.60
- Total employment: 620 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $132,810
- Median hourly wage: $63.85
- Total employment: 5,060 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,650
- Median hourly wage: $64.26
- Total employment: 2,740 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $134,260
- Median hourly wage: $64.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $134,560
- Median hourly wage: $64.69
- Total employment: 300 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $136,360
- Median hourly wage: $65.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $138,590
- Median hourly wage: $66.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $197,350
- Median hourly wage: $94.88
- Total employment: 760 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $222,280
- Median hourly wage: $106.86
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $224,150
- Median hourly wage: $107.77
- Total employment: Not available
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $231,590
- Median hourly wage: $111.34
- Total employment: 4,320 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 420 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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: 210 people (0.19 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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