Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Providence 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 Providence that require a graduate degree in Providence. 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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Pressmaster // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $90,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 550 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $91,680
- Median hourly wage: $44.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksii Didok // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Judicial law clerks
- Median annual wage: $92,870
- Median hourly wage: $44.65
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $93,060
- Median hourly wage: $44.74
- Total employment: 80 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 290 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $98,570
- Median hourly wage: $47.39
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,640
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 540 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $99,800
- Median hourly wage: $47.98
- Total employment: 1,070 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $99,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.07
- Total employment: 600 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $100,460
- Median hourly wage: $48.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,460
- Median hourly wage: $49.26
- Total employment: 1,830 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,970
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,480
- Median hourly wage: $51.68
- Total employment: 1,290 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $107,710
- Median hourly wage: $51.79
- Total employment: 560 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $111,330
- Median hourly wage: $53.52
- Total employment: 150 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $119,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,900 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $123,300
- Median hourly wage: $59.28
- Total employment: 510 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $126,860
- Median hourly wage: $60.99
- Total employment: 400 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $127,880
- Median hourly wage: $61.48
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $128,420
- Median hourly wage: $61.74
- Total employment: 1,740 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $128,490
- Median hourly wage: $61.77
- Total employment: 2,530 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $130,640
- Median hourly wage: $62.81
- Total employment: 1,490 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $135,910
- Median hourly wage: $65.34
- Total employment: 700 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $140,450
- Median hourly wage: $67.52
- Total employment: 330 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $151,860
- Median hourly wage: $73.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $154,070
- Median hourly wage: $74.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $210,230
- Median hourly wage: $101.07
- Total employment: 330 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $221,720
- Median hourly wage: $106.60
- Total employment: 370 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $229,340
- Median hourly wage: $110.26
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BlurryMe // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $230,350
- Median hourly wage: $110.74
- Total employment: 380 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Djols // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 310 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (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: 120 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 310 people (0.44 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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