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1 / 50#50. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Madison 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 Madison that require a graduate degree in Madison. 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. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,810
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Instructional coordinators
- Median annual wage: $82,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Total employment: 380 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $83,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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5 / 50#46. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $83,850
- Median hourly wage: $40.31
- Total employment: 420 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $85,310
- Median hourly wage: $41.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $85,690
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $88,980
- Median hourly wage: $42.78
- Total employment: 580 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $91,820
- Median hourly wage: $44.15
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Thanakorn.P // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $95,210
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $96,500
- Median hourly wage: $46.39
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $99,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $100,450
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Postsecondary teachers, all other
- Median annual wage: $100,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50#36. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $101,530
- Median hourly wage: $48.81
- Total employment: 830 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Median annual wage: $102,410
- Median hourly wage: $49.24
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pheelings media // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Statisticians
- Median annual wage: $104,430
- Median hourly wage: $50.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $105,050
- Median hourly wage: $50.51
- Total employment: 160 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other
- Median annual wage: $106,640
- Median hourly wage: $51.27
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $107,800
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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21 / 50#30. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $108,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 90 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $112,960
- Median hourly wage: $54.31
- Total employment: 350 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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23 / 50#28. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $114,420
- Median hourly wage: $55.01
- Total employment: 1,920 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50#27. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $119,310
- Median hourly wage: $57.36
- Total employment: 270 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $123,180
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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26 / 50#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $123,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 370 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $124,070
- Median hourly wage: $59.65
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $127,680
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $129,070
- Median hourly wage: $62.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $131,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 250 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $132,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 330 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,280
- Median hourly wage: $64.08
- Total employment: Not available
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $133,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $134,200
- Median hourly wage: $64.52
- Total employment: 460 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $134,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $136,740
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $136,990
- Median hourly wage: $65.86
- Total employment: 320 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $143,940
- Median hourly wage: $69.20
- Total employment: 900 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $152,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $168,140
- Median hourly wage: $80.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $174,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Median annual wage: $177,980
- Median hourly wage: $85.57
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $210,870
- Median hourly wage: $101.38
- Total employment: 290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. General internal medicine physicians
- Median annual wage: $229,020
- Median hourly wage: $110.10
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Physicians, pathologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Djols // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.4 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: 170 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 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 (1.51 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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