Highest paying jobs in Parkersburg that require a graduate degree

Written by:
August 1, 2022
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in Parkersburg that require a graduate degree

Those with graduate degrees earn more on average than those without them—but not all jobs are equal. And while rising tuition costs are enough to turn people away from the prospect of a master’s or doctoral degree, many high-paying professions still require such degrees to get in the door. Stacker compiled a list of the highest- paying jobs that require a graduate degree in Parkersburg-Vienna, WV using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage.

The best way to guarantee a high return on investment in a graduate degree is to be aware of professions that pay top-dollar for that added educational investment. Keep reading to see where a graduate degree is required—and can earn you the most.

You may also like: People from these metros are finding new jobs in Parkersburg

1 / 10
VH-studio // Shutterstock

#10. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $49,760 (#318 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,320 (292,230 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,420)
--- El Centro, CA ($91,110)
--- Fresno, CA ($90,860)

Job description: Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.

2 / 10
Canva

#9. Healthcare social workers

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $62,970 (#80 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,470 (176,110 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,980)
--- Salinas, CA ($95,690)

Job description: Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

3 / 10
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#8. Education administrators, postsecondary

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $66,250 (#201 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,200 (140,880 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ithaca, NY ($205,810)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($178,210)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($176,040)

Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

4 / 10
Canva

#7. Speech-language pathologists

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $70,590 (#277 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,240 (148,450 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($128,540)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($120,920)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($115,480)

Job description: Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.

5 / 10
Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#6. Physical therapists

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $91,750 (#137 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680 (220,870 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- El Centro, CA ($143,500)
--- Modesto, CA ($123,370)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($119,510)

Job description: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Parkersburg metro area

6 / 10
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Nurse practitioners

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $98,100 (#328 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $114,510 (211,280 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($188,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($177,800)
--- Salinas, CA ($155,310)

Job description: Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

7 / 10
Rappaport Center // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Lawyers

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $102,140 (#238 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $148,910 (658,120 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,920)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,070)

Job description: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

8 / 10
Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Physician assistants

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $115,110 (#139 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $116,080 (125,280 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($168,220)
--- Waterbury, CT ($165,230)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($158,020)

Job description: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

9 / 10
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#2. Pharmacists

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,600 (#267 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,460 (315,470 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($165,350)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($162,540)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($161,120)

Job description: Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

10 / 10
Unsplash

#1. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists

Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
- Annual mean salary: $282,610 (#17 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $251,650 (37,900 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($305,480)
--- Akron, OH ($297,710)
--- Lincoln, NE ($296,150)

Job description: Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Parkersburg

Trending Now