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1 / 50#50. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $99,330
- Median hourly wage: $47.76
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia that require a graduate degree in Philadelphia. 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. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,280 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $100,080
- Median hourly wage: $48.12
- Total employment: 3,570 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,910
- Median hourly wage: $48.52
- Total employment: 3,350 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $100,960
- Median hourly wage: $48.54
- Total employment: 6,370 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $103,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.93
- Total employment: 5,480 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 13,520 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Political scientists
- Median annual wage: $104,990
- Median hourly wage: $50.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $106,330
- Median hourly wage: $51.12
- Total employment: 2,090 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,700 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 360 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
15 / 50#35. Economics teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $107,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Law teachers, postsecondary (tie)
- Median annual wage: $107,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $108,200
- Median hourly wage: $52.02
- Total employment: 4,470 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $109,930
- Median hourly wage: $52.85
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $110,460
- Median hourly wage: $53.11
- Total employment: 2,600 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Economists
- Median annual wage: $121,820
- Median hourly wage: $58.57
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $124,680
- Median hourly wage: $59.94
- Total employment: 330 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $127,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,070 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $128,400
- Median hourly wage: $61.73
- Total employment: 320 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $130,240
- Median hourly wage: $62.62
- Total employment: 3,000 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,590
- Median hourly wage: $63.27
- Total employment: 5,780 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $133,340
- Median hourly wage: $64.11
- Total employment: 1,660 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,960
- Median hourly wage: $66.33
- Total employment: 7,070 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $139,550
- Median hourly wage: $67.09
- Total employment: 780 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $148,030
- Median hourly wage: $71.17
- Total employment: 18,270 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $160,750
- Median hourly wage: $77.29
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $165,730
- Median hourly wage: $79.68
- Total employment: 320 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $174,220
- Median hourly wage: $83.76
- Total employment: 2,090 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $179,220
- Median hourly wage: $86.16
- Total employment: 8,290 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $200,150
- Median hourly wage: $96.23
- Total employment: 220 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $202,290
- Median hourly wage: $97.26
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $215,060
- Median hourly wage: $103.39
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $220,310
- Median hourly wage: $105.92
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $236,740
- Median hourly wage: $113.82
- Total employment: 600 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
39 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
40 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,740 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 400 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tijana Simic // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 780 people (0.27 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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