Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 170 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee that require a graduate degree in Milwaukee. 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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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $81,410
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Genetic counselors
- Median annual wage: $82,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SeventyFour // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. History teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $82,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chad McDermott // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Urban and regional planners
- Median annual wage: $84,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.50
- Total employment: 160 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $85,060
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
totojang1977 // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Median annual wage: $86,300
- Median hourly wage: $41.49
- Total employment: Not available
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Occupational therapists
- Median annual wage: $87,690
- Median hourly wage: $42.16
- Total employment: 1,130 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Speech-language pathologists
- Median annual wage: $87,740
- Median hourly wage: $42.18
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $88,310
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Daniel Besic // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $88,400
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $93,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Audiologists
- Median annual wage: $93,810
- Median hourly wage: $45.10
- Total employment: 90 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $97,020
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 220 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Physical therapists
- Median annual wage: $101,620
- Median hourly wage: $48.86
- Total employment: 1,640 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $103,690
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. School psychologists
- Median annual wage: $104,290
- Median hourly wage: $50.14
- Total employment: 540 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Diego Cervo // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $104,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,270
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 380 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Veterinarians
- Median annual wage: $105,540
- Median hourly wage: $50.74
- Total employment: 390 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $105,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Psychologists, all other
- Median annual wage: $107,550
- Median hourly wage: $51.71
- Total employment: 380 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $110,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Clinical and counseling psychologists
- Median annual wage: $110,910
- Median hourly wage: $53.32
- Total employment: 260 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $114,950
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
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Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $121,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 890 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $129,170
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Nurse practitioners
- Median annual wage: $129,760
- Median hourly wage: $62.39
- Total employment: 1,940 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lawyers
- Median annual wage: $131,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.98
- Total employment: 3,610 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Physician assistants
- Median annual wage: $132,820
- Median hourly wage: $63.86
- Total employment: 1,230 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Worawee Meepian // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers
- Median annual wage: $133,350
- Median hourly wage: $64.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $137,560
- Median hourly wage: $66.13
- Total employment: 340 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Optometrists
- Median annual wage: $142,380
- Median hourly wage: $68.45
- Total employment: 220 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Pharmacists
- Median annual wage: $148,740
- Median hourly wage: $71.51
- Total employment: 1,590 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elnur // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Podiatrists
- Median annual wage: $156,030
- Median hourly wage: $75.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Dentists, general
- Median annual wage: $181,400
- Median hourly wage: $87.21
- Total employment: 600 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
luchschenF // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Physicists
- Median annual wage: $196,680
- Median hourly wage: $94.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Median annual wage: $214,690
- Median hourly wage: $103.21
- Total employment: 110 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Physicians, all other
- Median annual wage: $218,460
- Median hourly wage: $105.03
- Total employment: 2,680 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prostock-studio // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Dentists, all other specialists
- Median annual wage: $232,480
- Median hourly wage: $111.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Pediatricians, general
- Median annual wage: $239,080
- Median hourly wage: $114.94
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#1. Family medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 380 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
43 / 50#1. Nurse anesthetists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 190 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
44 / 50#1. Radiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#1. Neurologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
46 / 50#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Komsan Loonprom // Shutterstock
47 / 50#1. Cardiologists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlurryMe // Shutterstock
48 / 50#1. General internal medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: Not available
Djols // Shutterstock
49 / 50#1. Emergency medicine physicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 450 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Psychiatrists (tie)
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 170 people (0.2 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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