Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 810 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Houston 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 Houston that require a graduate degree in Houston. 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. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,940
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 510 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $97,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,980 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Thanakorn.P // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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luchschenF // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $97,620
- Median hourly wage: $46.93
- Total employment: Not available
KSai23 // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $97,630
- Median hourly wage: $46.94
- Total employment: 530 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,180 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 610 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,130
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 920 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 430 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,730
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 780 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $101,050
- Median hourly wage: $48.58
- Total employment: 2,610 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $101,410
- Median hourly wage: $48.76
- Total employment: 210 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $101,910
- Median hourly wage: $49.00
- Total employment: 360 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $102,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.43
- Total employment: 580 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $102,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.48
- Total employment: 2,830 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $109,520
- Median hourly wage: $52.66
- Total employment: 140 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $111,070
- Median hourly wage: $53.40
- Total employment: 3,840 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 640 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $123,220
- Median hourly wage: $59.24
- Total employment: 360 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $124,630
- Median hourly wage: $59.92
- Total employment: 1,320 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $124,780
- Median hourly wage: $59.99
- Total employment: 930 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Economists
- Median annual wage: $131,160
- Median hourly wage: $63.06
- Total employment: 160 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $133,140
- Median hourly wage: $64.01
- Total employment: 4,680 people (1.44 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: $133,610
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 10,970 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $134,840
- Median hourly wage: $64.83
- Total employment: 2,290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $139,010
- Median hourly wage: $66.83
- Total employment: 6,230 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $139,460
- Median hourly wage: $67.05
- Total employment: 17,290 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $166,120
- Median hourly wage: $79.86
- Total employment: 460 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $167,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $170,170
- Median hourly wage: $81.81
- Total employment: 1,410 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $187,590
- Median hourly wage: $90.19
- Total employment: 1,280 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Anesthesiologists
- Median annual wage: $202,830
- Median hourly wage: $97.52
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
indukas // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $212,050
- Median hourly wage: $101.95
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Elnur // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $213,840
- Median hourly wage: $102.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $220,420
- Median hourly wage: $105.97
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $235,490
- Median hourly wage: $113.22
- Total employment: 900 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 290 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 9,400 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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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: 570 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 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: 380 people (0.12 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: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 700 people (0.22 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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