Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
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 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 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.
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: Cheapest gas stations in Norfolk
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
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)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk that require a graduate degree
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
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)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Norfolk
Daxiao Productions // Shutterstock
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)
KSai23 // Shutterstock
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)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
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)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Norfolk
fizkes // Shutterstock
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)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: Not available
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: How much it costs to park at Norfolk International Airport
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
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)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
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)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
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)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $104,000
- Median hourly wage: $50.00
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk for high school graduates
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
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)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
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)
Petekub // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Norfolk
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
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)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
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)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
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)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Norfolk and surrounding regions
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
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)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
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)
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Norfolk
Elnur // Shutterstock
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)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $206,760
- Median hourly wage: $99.40
- Total employment: Not available
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: 1,130 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Norfolk in the last week
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
46 / 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)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Orthodontists (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
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
50 / 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)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 363 metros.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk
