Highest Paying Graduate Degrees
When it comes to salaries, the golden rule is to never talk about them— but we think differently. Find out which graduate degree can help you get the most out of your career and get the largest salary around!
Highest Paying Industries
Engineering |
Business |
Sciences |
Arts |
|
Median Salary: $136,500 |
Median Salary: |
Median Salary: $111,100 |
Median Salary: $80,000 |
Median salary based on mid-career salaries
Highest Paying Careers By Industry
While each industry has its share of high paying careers, here's a list of the top 5 in each respective industry based on early and mid-career salaries, as well as job satisfaction.
Engineering
The Engineering industry claims not only the highest median salary, but also the number one highest paying individual career for those with a Master’s in Petroleum Engineering coming out on top. Below are the top 5 highest paying careers in Engineering.
Petroleum Engineer (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $96,500
Mid Career Pay: $173,000
Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $102,000
Mid Career Pay: $142,000
Computer Engineering (CE) (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $111,000
Mid Career Pay: $139,000
Chemical Engineering (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $92,300
Mid Career Pay: $138,00
Biomedical Engineering (BME) (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $86,800
Mid Career Pay: $137,000
Business
Business comes in as the second highest paying industry with regards to median salary for graduate degrees, and an MBA in Strategy ranks 5th overall for the highest paying individual career, after Electrical and Computer Engineering. Below are the top 5 highest paying careers in Business.
Strategy (MBA)
Early Career Pay: $93,100
Mid Career Pay: $148,000
General & Strategic Management (MBA)
Early Career Pay: $84,000
Mid Career Pay: $144,000
Finance & Real Estate (MBA)
Early Career Pay: $78,900
Mid Career Pay: $143,000
Economics (MBA)
Early Career Pay: $71,900
Mid Career Pay: $136,000
Finance & Economics (MBA)
Early Career Pay: $68,100
Mid Career Pay: $134,000
Sciences
Although it ranks number 3 in median salary, the Science industry claims the second spot for highest paying individual career for those who have earned a Master’s in Nurse Anesthesia. Below are the the top 5 highest paying careers in Science.
Nurse Anesthesia (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $139,000
Mid Career Pay: $159,000
Organic Chemistry (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $79,000
Mid Career Pay: $133,000
Pharmacology (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $70,200
Mid Career Pay: $131,000
Physics (PhD)
Early Career Pay: $88,100
Mid Career Pay: $130,000
Computer Science (PhD)*
Early Career Pay: $112,200
Mid Career Pay: $129,000
Arts
Although it comes in at the bottom regarding median salary, the Arts industry isn’t made up of starving artists. A Master’s in Industrial Design is the highest paying graduate degree in this industry. Below are the top 5 highest paying careers in Liberal and Fine Arts.
Industrial Design (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $52,500
Mid Career Pay: $96,800
Design (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $62,700
Mid Career Pay: $93,300
Advertising (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $45,600
Mid Career Pay: $89,400
Instructional Design & Technology (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $59,400
Mid Career Pay: $85,300
Mass Communication (Master’s)
Early Career Pay: $44,500
Mid Career Pay: $79,100