voronaman // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City that require a graduate degree in Oklahoma City. 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.
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 1,270 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Thanakorn.P // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $65,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 210 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $66,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $67,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $77,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 80 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,860
- Median hourly wage: $37.91
- Total employment: 390 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $80,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,370 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $82,580
- Median hourly wage: $39.70
- Total employment: 180 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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totojang1977 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $83,080
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $85,370
- Median hourly wage: $41.04
- Total employment: 840 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $88,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,430 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $92,570
- Median hourly wage: $44.51
- Total employment: 510 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $96,440
- Median hourly wage: $46.37
- Total employment: 340 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $99,110
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 190 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $100,400
- Median hourly wage: $48.27
- Total employment: 190 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $100,440
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 4,450 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,560
- Median hourly wage: $48.35
- Total employment: 970 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,880
- Median hourly wage: $48.50
- Total employment: 550 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,400
- Median hourly wage: $51.64
- Total employment: 700 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $125,960
- Median hourly wage: $60.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $126,590
- Median hourly wage: $60.86
- Total employment: 1,350 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,320
- Median hourly wage: $62.65
- Total employment: 1,020 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $134,870
- Median hourly wage: $64.84
- Total employment: 1,700 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $144,540
- Median hourly wage: $69.49
- Total employment: 300 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $147,910
- Median hourly wage: $71.11
- Total employment: Not available
Djols // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Emergency medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $178,900
- Median hourly wage: $86.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $179,450
- Median hourly wage: $86.27
- Total employment: 450 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $208,000
- Median hourly wage: $100.00
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $227,760
- Median hourly wage: $109.50
- Total employment: Not available
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,090 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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
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: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 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.
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