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1 / 50#50. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk 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 Norfolk that require a graduate degree in Norfolk. 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: $77,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $78,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: Not available
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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5 / 50#46. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $79,160
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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8 / 50#43. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $80,700
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $81,360
- Median hourly wage: $39.12
- Total employment: 370 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Marriage and family therapists
- Median annual wage: $81,400
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: 250 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: 220 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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13 / 50#38. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $83,020
- Median hourly wage: $39.91
- Total employment: 140 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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14 / 50#37. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $84,220
- Median hourly wage: $40.49
- Total employment: 1,280 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50#36. Epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $84,360
- Median hourly wage: $40.56
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $87,110
- Median hourly wage: $41.88
- Total employment: 580 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $96,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $97,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.72
- Total employment: 720 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: Not available
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20 / 50#31. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $99,490
- Median hourly wage: $47.83
- Total employment: 1,170 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50#29. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $100,690
- Median hourly wage: $48.41
- Total employment: 760 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50#28. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,530 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $101,960
- Median hourly wage: $49.02
- Total employment: 650 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $104,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.00
- Total employment: Not available
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26 / 50#25. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $105,870
- Median hourly wage: $50.90
- Total employment: 460 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $106,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 560 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50#22. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $114,630
- Median hourly wage: $55.11
- Total employment: 290 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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30 / 50#21. Economists
- Median annual wage: $124,780
- Median hourly wage: $59.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $124,850
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 340 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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32 / 50#19. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $125,330
- Median hourly wage: $60.25
- Total employment: 1,290 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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34 / 50#17. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $125,910
- Median hourly wage: $60.53
- Total employment: 710 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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35 / 50#16. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $126,250
- Median hourly wage: $60.70
- Total employment: 2,600 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,470
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $127,650
- Median hourly wage: $61.37
- Total employment: 510 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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38 / 50#13. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $129,310
- Median hourly wage: $62.17
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,150
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $134,930
- Median hourly wage: $64.87
- Total employment: 1,600 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $159,370
- Median hourly wage: $76.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Anesthesiologists
- Median annual wage: $199,430
- Median hourly wage: $95.88
- Total employment: Not available
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $202,510
- Median hourly wage: $97.36
- Total employment: 710 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50#7. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $206,760
- Median hourly wage: $99.40
- Total employment: Not available
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,130 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 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
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Orthodontists (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 364 metros.
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