Ranking · original analysis of BLS and O*NET data
Highest-paying jobs with a master's degree
Occupations where a master's degree is the most commonly reported education requirement, ranked by national median wage.
Quick answer
Among occupations where a master's degree is the most commonly reported requirement, CEO pays the highest median, $213,990 (BLS May 2025).
The ranking
38 occupations
Data Every figure is from BLS OEWS May 2025 or O*NET 31.0; the selection rule is below.
| # | Occupation | Median pay | Report this level | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEO | $213,990 | 46% | 204,350 |
| 2 | Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | 58% | 790 |
| 3 | Physician Assistant | $135,880 | 81% | 162,150 |
| 4 | Nurse Midwife | $134,040 | 81% | 7,920 |
| 5 | Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | 65% | 323,040 |
| 6 | Fundraising Managers | $125,470 | 11% | 38,810 |
| 7 | Economist | $124,720 | 50% | 17,790 |
| 8 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $109,270 | 5% | 40,270 |
| 9 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | 36% | 221,270 |
| 10 | Statistician | $105,650 | 62% | 29,030 |
| 11 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | 48% | 180,470 |
| 12 | Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $103,170 | 46% | 9,900 |
| 13 | Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | 86% | 162,450 |
| 14 | Genetic Counselor | $100,040 | 90% | 3,740 |
| 15 | Speech Pathologist | $97,870 | 89% | 183,390 |
| 16 | Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,980 | 47% | 35,480 |
| 17 | Chemistry Teacher | $93,250 | 35% | 19,980 |
| 18 | Urban Planner | $89,320 | 56% | 44,230 |
| 19 | Operations Research Analyst | $88,940 | 43% | 108,510 |
| 20 | Epidemiologist | $87,220 | 67% | 12,090 |
| 21 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | $81,110 | 90% | 9,390 |
| 22 | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,250 | 50% | 77,960 |
| 23 | Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,940 | 43% | 47,670 |
| 24 | Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | 29% | 15,730 |
| 25 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | 51% | 93,560 |
| 26 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,580 | 71% | 29,420 |
| 27 | Instructional Designer | $77,440 | 60% | 227,760 |
| 28 | Historian | $76,750 | 64% | 3,450 |
| 29 | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $76,590 | 39% | 13,150 |
| 30 | Acupuncturist | $76,040 | 68% | 7,830 |
| 31 | Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | 28% | 12,540 |
| 32 | Healthcare Social Worker | $67,880 | 70% | 187,630 |
| 33 | Archivist | $64,550 | 84% | 7,970 |
| 34 | Curator | $63,420 | 44% | 12,150 |
| 35 | Athletic Trainer | $62,520 | 54% | 30,500 |
| 36 | Pastor | $60,810 | 48% | 57,200 |
| 37 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $60,280 | 77% | 132,810 |
| 38 | Farm and Home Management Educators | $60,220 | 70% | 8,220 |
Method
How this page is built
Occupations whose most common O*NET-reported education requirement is a master's degree, ranked by BLS national median annual wage, May 2025.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Pay at a specific employer or for self-employed workers.
- Openings in your area: these are national figures.
- Whether a job suits you personally.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.