Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $47,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.01
- Total employment: 230 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Toledo 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 Toledo that require a graduate degree in Toledo. 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. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $55,990
- Median hourly wage: $26.92
- Total employment: 890 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $57,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 280 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Curators
- Median annual wage: $58,320
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $59,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 800 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Healthcare social workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 560 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.95
- Total employment: 280 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $66,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,650
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 1,700 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $75,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,100
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 280 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,890
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 950 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $82,720
- Median hourly wage: $39.77
- Total employment: 350 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $86,870
- Median hourly wage: $41.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $89,440
- Median hourly wage: $43.00
- Total employment: 310 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $92,040
- Median hourly wage: $44.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $97,220
- Median hourly wage: $46.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,010
- Median hourly wage: $47.60
- Total employment: 380 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $99,650
- Median hourly wage: $47.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 690 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,480
- Median hourly wage: $48.31
- Total employment: 480 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $104,690
- Median hourly wage: $50.33
- Total employment: 900 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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fizkes // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $111,310
- Median hourly wage: $53.52
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $119,010
- Median hourly wage: $57.22
- Total employment: 340 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $120,190
- Median hourly wage: $57.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $124,190
- Median hourly wage: $59.71
- Total employment: 690 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $126,050
- Median hourly wage: $60.60
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $132,510
- Median hourly wage: $63.71
- Total employment: 690 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $149,800
- Median hourly wage: $72.02
- Total employment: 120 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $209,810
- Median hourly wage: $100.87
- Total employment: 100 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $219,340
- Median hourly wage: $105.45
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $233,740
- Median hourly wage: $112.38
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 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: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 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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