Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $112,120
- Median hourly wage: $53.90
- Total employment: 5,830 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. that require a graduate degree in Washington, D.C.. 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. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $112,880
- Median hourly wage: $54.27
- Total employment: 730 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Agenturfotografin // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Historians
- Median annual wage: $115,710
- Median hourly wage: $55.63
- Total employment: 420 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $118,250
- Median hourly wage: $56.85
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $120,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,370
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 650 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 1,910 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Thanakorn.P // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $125,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $126,620
- Median hourly wage: $60.88
- Total employment: 4,100 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,950 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 760 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. Nurse practitioners (tie)
- Median annual wage: $129,920
- Median hourly wage: $62.46
- Total employment: 4,430 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Veterinarians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $129,920
- Median hourly wage: $62.46
- Total employment: 1,530 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $133,240
- Median hourly wage: $64.06
- Total employment: 3,490 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $133,720
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 6,950 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stokkete // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $137,650
- Median hourly wage: $66.18
- Total employment: 2,840 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
antoniodiaz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Nurse midwives
- Median annual wage: $139,770
- Median hourly wage: $67.20
- Total employment: 320 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $143,890
- Median hourly wage: $69.18
- Total employment: 4,870 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $145,560
- Median hourly wage: $69.98
- Total employment: Not available
Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $153,320
- Median hourly wage: $73.71
- Total employment: 650 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Desizned // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Political scientists
- Median annual wage: $153,340
- Median hourly wage: $73.72
- Total employment: 3,910 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $155,870
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 320 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Computer and information research scientists
- Median annual wage: $156,360
- Median hourly wage: $75.17
- Total employment: 3,150 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
abriendomundo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#26. Astronomers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $157,980
- Median hourly wage: $75.95
- Total employment: 440 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Petekub // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Economists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $157,980
- Median hourly wage: $75.95
- Total employment: 4,300 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kenishirotie //Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mathematicians
- Median annual wage: $160,510
- Median hourly wage: $77.17
- Total employment: 220 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $162,610
- Median hourly wage: $78.18
- Total employment: 6,330 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $163,190
- Median hourly wage: $78.46
- Total employment: Not available
Kzenon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $163,320
- Median hourly wage: $78.52
- Total employment: 720 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
indukas // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $168,280
- Median hourly wage: $80.90
- Total employment: 1,940 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $176,800
- Median hourly wage: $85.00
- Total employment: 3,110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $186,990
- Median hourly wage: $89.90
- Total employment: 840 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
33 / 50#17. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $191,880
- Median hourly wage: $92.25
- Total employment: 11,170 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Lawyers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $191,880
- Median hourly wage: $92.25
- Total employment: 48,170 people (15.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $199,990
- Median hourly wage: $96.15
- Total employment: 150 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $218,490
- Median hourly wage: $105.04
- Total employment: 230 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Psychiatrists
- Median annual wage: $219,970
- Median hourly wage: $105.76
- Total employment: 570 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $223,030
- Median hourly wage: $107.22
- Total employment: 1,740 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Family medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $224,330
- Median hourly wage: $107.85
- Total employment: 1,900 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Nurse anesthetists
- Median annual wage: $225,340
- Median hourly wage: $108.34
- Total employment: 390 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
41 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Dermatologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 340 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photoroyalty // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Surgeons, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 250 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
46 / 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
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 270 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Anesthesiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 300 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Orthodontists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,060 people (0.34 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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