Careers with a doctoral or professional degree

Occupations where BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree, such as a JD, MD, DO, PharmD, or PhD, as the typical education needed for entry.

Jobs, 2025
4,543,200
Verified data
Share of all jobs
2.7%
Projected change
+6.4%
2025 to 2035 Official projection
Median wage
$128,870
2025 Verified data

73 occupations, ranked by median wage

OccupationMedian wageChange 2025 to 2035Openings per yearOn-the-job training
Pediatric surgeons$559,030+2.0%0Internship/residency
Cardiologists$496,010+4.8%500Internship/residency
Radiologists$420,860+3.4%700Internship/residency
Surgeons, all other$414,010+4.0%700Internship/residency
Anesthesiologists$391,490+3.6%1,100Internship/residency
Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric$358,550+4.0%400Internship/residency
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons$352,220+5.6%200Internship/residency
Emergency medicine physicians$335,550+3.2%900Internship/residency
Dermatologists$328,730+6.8%400Internship/residency
Physicians, pathologists$312,400+4.8%300Internship/residency
Prosthodontists$311,180+5.8%0Internship/residency
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric$300,080+4.5%200Internship/residency
Obstetricians and gynecologists$292,910+1.7%500Internship/residency
Orthodontists$289,140+6.0%200Internship/residency
Psychiatrists$281,870+7.2%900Internship/residency
Physicians, all other$265,930+3.4%9,400Internship/residency
General internal medicine physicians$256,560+4.0%1,900Internship/residency
Neurologists$248,560+6.4%300Internship/residency
Family medicine physicians$244,180+3.3%2,900Internship/residency
Dentists, all other specialists$224,990+1.3%100Internship/residency
Pediatricians, general$210,040+1.5%1,000Internship/residency
Physicists$172,250+7.2%1,300None
Dentists, general$170,950+5.7%4,200None
Podiatrists$160,300+2.0%200Internship/residency
Lawyers$159,670+4.7%28,700None
Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates$153,990+2.8%800Short-term on-the-job training
Pharmacists$140,910+5.2%12,500None
Optometrists$136,570+9.5%2,000None
Veterinarians$130,100+9.4%3,100None
Astronomers$128,820+7.8%100None
Law teachers, postsecondary$128,500+2.6%1,800None
Biochemists and biophysicists$127,410+12.3%2,900None
Economics teachers, postsecondary$123,920+2.4%1,000None
Administrative law judges, adjudicators, and hearing officers$117,8600.0%500Short-term on-the-job training
Engineering teachers, postsecondary$109,270+7.8%3,900None
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary$107,310+17.9%24,900None
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists$103,410+12.6%10,500None
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary$103,170+2.4%800None
Physical therapists$102,760+11.9%13,400None
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary$101,420+2.8%100None
Clinical and counseling psychologists$100,580+11.7%4,100Internship/residency
Physics teachers, postsecondary$100,310+2.4%1,100None
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary$99,650+2.6%400None
Business teachers, postsecondary$99,080+5.9%7,600None
Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary$98,700+2.9%800None
Political science teachers, postsecondary$98,070+2.5%1,500None
Geography teachers, postsecondary$97,590+2.7%300None
Computer science teachers, postsecondary$96,980+4.9%3,200None
Architecture teachers, postsecondary$96,870+2.6%700None
Audiologists$95,780+11.0%600None
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary$94,980+2.7%600None
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary$93,250+2.3%1,700None
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary$85,020+2.7%1,000None
Biological science teachers, postsecondary$84,620+7.3%4,700None
Sociology teachers, postsecondary$84,290+2.2%1,000None
History teachers, postsecondary$83,8200.0%1,500None
Psychology teachers, postsecondary$80,340+4.0%3,700None
Library science teachers, postsecondary$80,340+2.7%300None
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary$80,260+2.0%1,800None
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary$80,250+17.1%8,500None
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary$79,940+1.7%3,900None
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary$79,350+0.2%1,600None
Chiropractors$79,200+8.7%2,600None
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary$78,7600.0%4,500None
Communications teachers, postsecondary$78,580+2.1%2,400None
Postsecondary teachers, all other$77,640+2.0%12,500None
Social work teachers, postsecondary$77,570+2.6%1,100None
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary$77,270+2.2%1,000None
Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary$76,590+1.5%1,100None
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary$75,870+2.4%200None
Education teachers, postsecondary$75,350+2.5%5,300None
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other$72,990+1.6%1,300None
Judicial law clerks$64,920+2.8%1,500None
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.