Careers with a master's degree

Occupations where BLS lists a master's degree as the typical education needed for entry.

Jobs, 2025

3,941,300

Verified data

Share of all jobs

2.3%

Projected change

+11.0%

2025 to 2035 Official projection

Median wage

$83,210

2025 Verified data

40 occupations, ranked by median wage

Occupation	Median wage	Change 2025 to 2035	Openings per year	On-the-job training
Nurse anesthetists	$236,590	+9.7%	2,400	None
Industrial-organizational psychologists	$193,950	+6.5%	300	Internship/residency
Political scientists	$142,080	-2.0%	400	None
Computer and information research scientists	$140,300	+21.8%	2,900	None
Physician assistants	$135,880	+21.1%	11,500	None
Nurse midwives	$134,040	+11.5%	400	None
Nurse practitioners	$132,300	+41.0%	29,400	None
Mathematicians	$126,710	+0.6%	100	None
Economists	$124,720	+4.7%	1,100	None
Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other	$115,210	+5.5%	1,900	None
Psychologists, all other	$110,840	+2.3%	3,500	Internship/residency
Sociologists	$106,030	+3.8%	200	None
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary	$105,870	-0.3%	20,600	None
Statisticians	$105,650	+11.0%	1,900	None
Education administrators, postsecondary	$104,590	+1.8%	14,500	None
Occupational therapists	$100,330	+14.8%	10,000	None
Genetic counselors	$100,040	+10.4%	300	None
Speech-language pathologists	$97,870	+16.6%	12,500	Internship/residency
School psychologists	$95,990	+0.8%	3,400	Internship/residency
Urban and regional planners	$89,320	+3.9%	3,200	None
Epidemiologists	$87,220	+18.7%	800	None
Orthotists and prosthetists	$81,110	+12.9%	700	Internship/residency
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary	$78,620	+2.2%	8,000	None
Instructional coordinators	$77,440	+1.6%	23,100	None
Historians	$76,750	+3.0%	300	None
Acupuncturists	$76,040	+8.6%	800	None
Anthropologists and archeologists	$70,770	+6.0%	800	None
Survey researchers	$69,460	-4.8%	600	None
Librarians and media collections specialists	$68,270	+2.6%	12,600	None
Healthcare social workers	$67,880	+8.5%	16,900	Internship/residency
Marriage and family therapists	$66,940	+13.5%	6,900	Internship/residency
Archivists	$64,550	+3.4%	1,100	None
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	$64,330	+2.9%	27,800	None
Curators	$63,420	+4.9%	1,600	None
Athletic trainers	$62,520	+12.7%	2,400	None
Mental health and substance abuse social workers	$60,280	+10.3%	12,500	Internship/residency
Farm and home management educators	$60,220	-3.2%	800	None
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	$59,350	+18.4%	50,500	Internship/residency
Counselors, all other	$50,860	+5.9%	4,300	None
Rehabilitation counselors	$46,850	+2.2%	8,200	None

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.