Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Spokane 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 Spokane that require a graduate degree in Spokane. 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.
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2 / 50#49. Athletic trainers
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 460 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 1,590 people (6.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Healthcare social workers
- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 430 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $70,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $70,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $72,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 230 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
voronaman // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $74,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
15 / 50#35. Librarians and media collections specialists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $77,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 180 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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VH-studio // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $77,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 490 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $77,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $78,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,670
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Chiropractors
- Median annual wage: $82,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 80 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $82,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
- Median annual wage: $83,450
- Median hourly wage: $40.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $84,180
- Median hourly wage: $40.47
- Total employment: 140 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,220
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 30 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $92,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $92,910
- Median hourly wage: $44.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $93,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.19
- Total employment: 580 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $94,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $95,950
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 290 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $96,350
- Median hourly wage: $46.32
- Total employment: 280 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,360
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $103,060
- Median hourly wage: $49.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sebastian Duda // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Median annual wage: $108,680
- Median hourly wage: $52.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $110,640
- Median hourly wage: $53.19
- Total employment: 820 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $114,400
- Median hourly wage: $55.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $118,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 310 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,260
- Median hourly wage: $61.18
- Total employment: 210 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $131,080
- Median hourly wage: $63.02
- Total employment: 460 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $131,300
- Median hourly wage: $63.12
- Total employment: 150 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $134,670
- Median hourly wage: $64.75
- Total employment: 360 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $134,800
- Median hourly wage: $64.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $138,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 460 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $146,700
- Median hourly wage: $70.53
- Total employment: 740 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $174,710
- Median hourly wage: $83.99
- Total employment: 270 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Physicians, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 610 people (2.38 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.
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