Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $51,530
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 960 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Greenville 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 Greenville that require a graduate degree in Greenville. 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.
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Greenville
VH-studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $52,300
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 1,340 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $54,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $56,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.22
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Greenville by diners
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $64,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 680 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 370 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 400 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $65,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Greenville metro area
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $66,880
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 120 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,770
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 150 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Greenville by diners
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 360 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,540
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Greenville this year
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,360
- Median hourly wage: $40.08
- Total employment: 1,130 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $85,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Greenville are looking to buy homes
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $86,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $87,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: Not available
I. Noyan Yilmaz // // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $88,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $91,960
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 350 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Are home prices going down in Greenville in 2026?
fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $93,500
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $98,860
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 880 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,070
- Median hourly wage: $47.63
- Total employment: 390 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,590
- Median hourly wage: $48.36
- Total employment: 1,020 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $102,340
- Median hourly wage: $49.20
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Greenville
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $107,050
- Median hourly wage: $51.47
- Total employment: 400 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $108,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $110,550
- Median hourly wage: $53.15
- Total employment: 1,130 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $111,130
- Median hourly wage: $53.43
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Greenville by diners
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $131,750
- Median hourly wage: $63.34
- Total employment: 310 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $132,460
- Median hourly wage: $63.68
- Total employment: 470 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $134,270
- Median hourly wage: $64.55
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $137,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $140,010
- Median hourly wage: $67.31
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Greenville?
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Orthodontists
- Median annual wage: $145,630
- Median hourly wage: $70.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $199,300
- Median hourly wage: $95.82
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $223,220
- Median hourly wage: $107.32
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $223,700
- Median hourly wage: $107.55
- Total employment: 300 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,010 people (2.35 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Greenville
