Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Austin 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 Austin that require a graduate degree in Austin. 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. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 510 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Economists
- Median annual wage: $82,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $83,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $85,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,610 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $96,870
- Median hourly wage: $46.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 860 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,930
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 410 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $100,270
- Median hourly wage: $48.21
- Total employment: 400 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,690
- Median hourly wage: $48.41
- Total employment: 2,310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 480 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $102,410
- Median hourly wage: $49.24
- Total employment: 2,200 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 420 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $105,840
- Median hourly wage: $50.89
- Total employment: 1,370 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 680 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $109,070
- Median hourly wage: $52.44
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $112,760
- Median hourly wage: $54.21
- Total employment: 340 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $116,830
- Median hourly wage: $56.17
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $121,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $121,490
- Median hourly wage: $58.41
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $124,370
- Median hourly wage: $59.80
- Total employment: 640 people (0.51 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: $124,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,310 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 610 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,170
- Median hourly wage: $61.62
- Total employment: 3,080 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $129,380
- Median hourly wage: $62.20
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $132,530
- Median hourly wage: $63.72
- Total employment: 2,570 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $133,400
- Median hourly wage: $64.13
- Total employment: 7,110 people (5.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $140,880
- Median hourly wage: $67.73
- Total employment: 280 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $141,500
- Median hourly wage: $68.03
- Total employment: 1,730 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $151,570
- Median hourly wage: $72.87
- Total employment: 520 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $153,990
- Median hourly wage: $74.03
- Total employment: 690 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $162,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $181,760
- Median hourly wage: $87.39
- Total employment: 790 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $204,260
- Median hourly wage: $98.20
- Total employment: Not available
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 2,050 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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: 150 people (0.12 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: 190 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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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