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1 / 50#50. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $48,410
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- Total employment: 200 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Scranton 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 Scranton that require a graduate degree in Scranton. 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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2 / 50#49. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $49,590
- Median hourly wage: $23.84
- Total employment: 230 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $49,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 1,230 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $56,030
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 610 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 130 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 260 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $61,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 250 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $64,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $74,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,660
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $76,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 120 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 400 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50#29. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $85,710
- Median hourly wage: $41.21
- Total employment: 310 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $90,600
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 360 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,480
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,660
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 290 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,760
- Median hourly wage: $46.52
- Total employment: 480 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $100,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 510 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $102,480
- Median hourly wage: $49.27
- Total employment: 840 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $109,740
- Median hourly wage: $52.76
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $118,180
- Median hourly wage: $56.82
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $122,240
- Median hourly wage: $58.77
- Total employment: 330 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $125,290
- Median hourly wage: $60.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $126,400
- Median hourly wage: $60.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $128,120
- Median hourly wage: $61.60
- Total employment: 460 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,100
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $133,420
- Median hourly wage: $64.14
- Total employment: 690 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $166,820
- Median hourly wage: $80.20
- Total employment: 560 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $182,580
- Median hourly wage: $87.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $210,350
- Median hourly wage: $101.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $221,070
- Median hourly wage: $106.28
- Total employment: 220 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 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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