DGLimages // Shutterstock
1 / 39#39. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $37,470
- Median hourly wage: $18.02
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Lubbock 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 Lubbock that require a graduate degree in Lubbock. 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.
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Lubbock metro area
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
2 / 39#38. Rehabilitation counselors
- Median annual wage: $44,550
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
3 / 39#37. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $47,480
- Median hourly wage: $22.83
- Total employment: 280 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 39#36. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $56,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 160 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
5 / 39#35. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $57,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Lubbock area by diners
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 39#34. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $58,230
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
7 / 39#33. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $59,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 39#32. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 370 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 39#31. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
10 / 39#30. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Lubbock
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
11 / 39#29. Counselors, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 39#28. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $64,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
13 / 39#27. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 690 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
14 / 39#26. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
15 / 39#25. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $67,030
- Median hourly wage: $32.23
- Total employment: 160 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Lubbock
fizkes // Shutterstock
16 / 39#24. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $67,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
17 / 39#23. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
18 / 39#22. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.28
- Total employment: 260 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
19 / 39#21. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
20 / 39#20. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Top 25 songs in Lubbock on Shazam in the past week
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
21 / 39#19. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $81,350
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 39#18. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 550 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
23 / 39#17. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 39#16. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 39#15. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $87,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Lubbock in the last week
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
26 / 39#14. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,510
- Median hourly wage: $46.40
- Total employment: 310 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
27 / 39#13. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.49
- Total employment: 170 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 39#12. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $98,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 39#11. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $100,350
- Median hourly wage: $48.24
- Total employment: 480 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
30 / 39#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $104,900
- Median hourly wage: $50.43
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Lubbock
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
31 / 39#9. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
32 / 39#8. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $111,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 39#7. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $119,990
- Median hourly wage: $57.69
- Total employment: 340 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 39#6. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $129,170
- Median hourly wage: $62.10
- Total employment: 130 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
35 / 39#5. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $132,810
- Median hourly wage: $63.85
- Total employment: 140 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Lubbock
Kzenon // Shutterstock
36 / 39#4. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $137,390
- Median hourly wage: $66.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
37 / 39#3. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $140,310
- Median hourly wage: $67.46
- Total employment: 330 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
38 / 39#2. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $209,800
- Median hourly wage: $100.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
39 / 39#1. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 310 people (1.85 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.
