Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $76,030
- Median hourly wage: $36.55
- Total employment: 200 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh that require a graduate degree in Pittsburgh. 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. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 470 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 360 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $77,500
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $82,400
- Median hourly wage: $39.62
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $83,420
- Median hourly wage: $40.11
- Total employment: 1,220 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $83,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $85,950
- Median hourly wage: $41.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $90,280
- Median hourly wage: $43.40
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $90,850
- Median hourly wage: $43.68
- Total employment: 370 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 930 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 4,520 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,860
- Median hourly wage: $47.05
- Total employment: 1,600 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,010
- Median hourly wage: $47.12
- Total employment: 1,710 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $99,590
- Median hourly wage: $47.88
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $102,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,050 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $107,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.77
- Total employment: 2,300 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $109,760
- Median hourly wage: $52.77
- Total employment: 120 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $111,150
- Median hourly wage: $53.44
- Total employment: 2,000 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $113,580
- Median hourly wage: $54.61
- Total employment: 270 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Economists
- Median annual wage: $116,880
- Median hourly wage: $56.19
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $119,540
- Median hourly wage: $57.47
- Total employment: Not available
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $124,500
- Median hourly wage: $59.86
- Total employment: 580 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $125,870
- Median hourly wage: $60.51
- Total employment: 5,600 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $131,950
- Median hourly wage: $63.44
- Total employment: 3,540 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $132,290
- Median hourly wage: $63.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $145,350
- Median hourly wage: $69.88
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $153,730
- Median hourly wage: $73.91
- Total employment: 750 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $172,490
- Median hourly wage: $82.93
- Total employment: 4,830 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $195,050
- Median hourly wage: $93.77
- Total employment: 510 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $207,380
- Median hourly wage: $99.70
- Total employment: 530 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $211,600
- Median hourly wage: $101.73
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $212,080
- Median hourly wage: $101.96
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $227,200
- Median hourly wage: $109.23
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 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
47 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,470 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.15 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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