10 Highest-Paying Jobs With a Master’s Degree

Earning a master’s degree is a big commitment. While online master’s programs make it easier than ever to earn a graduate degree, they still require time, dedication, and a serious financial investment. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your master’s degree aligns with your goals and strategically positions you for a high-paying career.

A master’s degree can be a key credential to enter fast-growing industries that offer high salaries. Professionals in the following fields earn 50%-200% more than the national average. Here are the 10 highest-paying master’s degrees.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest-paying fields that require graduate-level study are nursing, healthcare, math, computer science, psychology, and the social sciences.

The following occupations reported a median annual salary of over $100,000 in 2023, well above the national median salary of $48,070.

As an industrial-organizational psychologist, you can help create safe, productive workplaces. Your responsibilities may include improving job performance, negotiating salaries, resolving conflicts, and creating a more inclusive work environment.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that students who graduated in 2023 with a master’s in psychology earned an average starting salary of $60,300; however, there’s plenty of room for growth and higher earnings. The BLS reports that in 2023, the top 10% of industrial-organizational psychologists earned an estimated annual salary of $219,810.

If you have an aptitude for technology and want to earn a high wage after graduation, getting your master’s in computer science could be a great option. NACE reports that graduates of computer and information science master’s programs earned an average starting salary of $114,140 in 2023.

Computer scientists develop and implement new ways to utilize technology for innovative solutions. In this role, you could study and solve complex computing problems for businesses in fields like science, medicine, and finance.

Political scientists evaluate the effects of policies and laws on government, businesses, and people. In this role, you may conduct research in areas such as national politics, comparative politics, international relations, and economic and social trends.

NACE reports that in 2023, graduates of political science master’s programs earned an average starting salary of $55,050, while the BLS reports that the top 10% of earners saw an estimated salary of $183,500 that year.

Many professionals who want to work with patients without the cost and time required to become a doctor opt to become physician assistants. In this role, you’ll work closely with physicians to examine, diagnose, and treat patients.

The BLS reports that for physician assistants in 2023, the bottom 10% of earners had an estimated salary of $86,280, while the top 10% earned an estimated $170,790.

Nurse midwives provide specialized care for women, including gynecological exams, family planning, primary maternity care, and prenatal care. As a nurse midwife, you could deliver babies, manage emergency labor situations, repair lacerations, and provide surgical assistance to physicians during cesarean births.

With a median annual wage nearly three times the median annual wage for all occupations in the U.S., nurse midwives can earn a competitive salary. The BLS reports that for nurse midwives, the top 10% of earners made $211,820 in 2023.

Nurse practitioners can be primary or specialty care providers for families and patients of all ages. Their responsibilities may include assessment, healthcare management, and integrating changes into a patient’s life. They can also specialize in certain patient groups, such as geriatric, pediatric, or psychiatric health.

The BLS reports that the top 25% of nurse practitioners earned an estimated $140,610 in 2023, while the top 10% earned an estimated $168,030.

If you love working with numbers, a master’s in mathematics can open the door to a variety of high-paying careers in business, engineering, science, and other fields. As a mathematician, you could design surveys, work with data, or build mathematical models.

According to NACE, the mean starting salary for graduates of mathematics master’s programs is $84,750 as of 2023, which is significantly higher than the national mean wage of $65,470.

Economists work to evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy through research and data. As an economist, you can advise businesses, governments, nonprofits, and individuals on fiscal policy or other economic issues.

NACE reports that graduates with a master’s in economics earned an average starting salary of $76,600 in 2023. Meanwhile, the BLS reports that of economists, the top 10% of earners saw an estimated salary of $216,900 in 2023, which suggests experience can lead to far higher earnings.

Statisticians work with numbers, datasets, and probability to solve problems in government, healthcare, and business. As a statistician, you will interpret data and communicate analyses to technical and non-technical audiences. Some statisticians also work in academia as researchers.

NACE reports that graduates of statistics master’s programs earned an average starting salary of $87,490 in 2023, and those who studied applied statistics saw an average starting salary of $83,750.

Education administrators are the backbone of school systems. They oversee daily operations, create safe environments conducive to learning, and ensure teachers and students are well supported. This leadership role requires strong organization and communication skills, but if you’re passionate about education, you can make a real impact in this career.While employment for K-12 education administrators is projected to decline slightly in the coming years, these professionals earn median six-figure salaries, and the highest 10% of earners made more than $160,000 in 2023.

While most of the highest-paying careers are in healthcare, science, and mathematics, there are plenty of high-paying careers in other areas, especially in the field of social sciences. The four careers below just missed the cutoff for the highest-paying careers: