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1 / 50#50. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Dallas 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 Dallas that require a graduate degree in Dallas. 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. Economists
- Median annual wage: $97,610
- Median hourly wage: $46.93
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,760
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $98,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 9,080 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $98,300
- Median hourly wage: $47.26
- Total employment: 180 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 510 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,180
- Median hourly wage: $48.16
- Total employment: 4,390 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,290
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,380 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,870 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 300 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,250 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $101,710
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Total employment: 140 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $102,140
- Median hourly wage: $49.11
- Total employment: 3,160 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Thanakorn.P // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 240 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $107,190
- Median hourly wage: $51.54
- Total employment: 360 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $108,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.02
- Total employment: 4,570 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $112,810
- Median hourly wage: $54.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $123,400
- Median hourly wage: $59.33
- Total employment: 1,600 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $123,570
- Median hourly wage: $59.41
- Total employment: 140 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,750 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,200 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $131,380
- Median hourly wage: $63.16
- Total employment: 3,330 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $131,810
- Median hourly wage: $63.37
- Total employment: 710 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,910
- Median hourly wage: $63.42
- Total employment: 5,300 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $137,180
- Median hourly wage: $65.95
- Total employment: 240 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cardiologists
- Median annual wage: $137,710
- Median hourly wage: $66.21
- Total employment: 640 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $137,910
- Median hourly wage: $66.30
- Total employment: 6,280 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $153,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $157,340
- Median hourly wage: $75.65
- Total employment: 15,740 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $162,290
- Median hourly wage: $78.02
- Total employment: 2,650 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $168,540
- Median hourly wage: $81.03
- Total employment: 10,410 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $202,610
- Median hourly wage: $97.41
- Total employment: 120 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $204,020
- Median hourly wage: $98.09
- Total employment: 1,530 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Anesthesiologists
- Median annual wage: $208,680
- Median hourly wage: $100.33
- Total employment: 1,530 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $210,580
- Median hourly wage: $101.24
- Total employment: 190 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $211,550
- Median hourly wage: $101.71
- Total employment: Not available
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41 / 50#10. Surgeons, all other
- Median annual wage: $215,010
- Median hourly wage: $103.37
- Total employment: 330 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $225,670
- Median hourly wage: $108.50
- Total employment: 110 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $227,570
- Median hourly wage: $109.41
- Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $227,680
- Median hourly wage: $109.46
- Total employment: 350 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 980 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (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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