Those with graduate degrees earn more on average than those without them—but not all jobs are equal. And while rising tuition costs are enough to turn people away from the prospect of a master’s or doctoral degree, many high-paying professions still require such degrees to get in the door. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying jobs that require a graduate degree in Terre Haute, IN using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage.
The best way to guarantee a high return on investment in a graduate degree is to be aware of professions that pay top-dollar for that added educational investment. Keep reading to see where a graduate degree is required—and can earn you the most.
#18. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $43,630 (#58 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,740 (14,030 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Fresno, CA ($143,000)
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($127,110)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,240)
Job description: Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
#17. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $47,370 (#340 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,320 (292,230 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,420)
- El Centro, CA ($91,110)
- Fresno, CA ($90,860)
Job description: Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
#16. Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,860 (#94 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,540 (116,780 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Madera, CA ($92,870)
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($91,480)
- Santa Rosa, CA ($89,730)
Job description: Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
#15. Healthcare social workers
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $58,570 (#139 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,470 (176,110 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,410)
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,980)
- Salinas, CA ($95,690)
Job description: Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
#14. Speech-language pathologists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $67,470 (#303 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,240 (148,450 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Modesto, CA ($128,540)
- Santa Rosa, CA ($120,920)
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($115,480)
Job description: Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems.
#13. Physical therapists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $75,160 (#365 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680 (220,870 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- El Centro, CA ($143,500)
- Modesto, CA ($123,370)
- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($119,510)
Job description: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
#12. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
Terre Haute, IN
– Annual mean salary: $86,440 (#243 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 120
National
– Annual mean salary: $103,010 (262,480 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($154,970)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($146,070)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($145,590)
Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
#11. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $87,120 (#83 highest pay among all metros)
- – Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $101,800 (126,110 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($143,800)
- New Haven, CT ($142,330)
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($136,230)
Job description: Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
#10. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $89,000 (#78 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,290 (111,320 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,550)
- Jefferson City, MO ($133,640)
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($125,020)
Job description: Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
#9. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $90,050 (#37 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,130 (38,520 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- College Station-Bryan, TX ($162,430)
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($142,380)
- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($141,860)
Job description: Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
#8. Occupational therapists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $91,320 (#82 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,480 (126,610 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- The Villages, FL ($115,920)
- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($115,060)
- Modesto, CA ($112,870)
Job description: Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual’s environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
#7. Lawyers
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $91,620 (#295 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,910 (658,120 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,610)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,920)
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,070)
Job description: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
#6. Veterinarians
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $101,810 (#137 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,350 (73,710 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($169,220)
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($150,370)
- Akron, OH ($150,330)
Job description: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock or care for pets and companion animals.
#5. Education administrators, postsecondary
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $107,830 (#97 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,200 (140,880 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Ithaca, NY ($205,810)
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($178,210)
- Charlottesville, VA ($176,040)
Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
#4. Physician assistants
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $117,680 (#105 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,080 (125,280 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Salinas, CA ($168,220)
- Waterbury, CT ($165,230)
- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($158,020)
Job description: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
#3. Nurse practitioners
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $118,640 (#89 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,510 (211,280 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($188,070)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($177,800)
- Salinas, CA ($155,310)
Job description: Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
#2. Pharmacists
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $131,510 (#94 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,460 (315,470 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Madera, CA ($165,350)
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($162,540)
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($161,120)
Job description: Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
#1. Family medicine physicians
Terre Haute, IN
- Annual mean salary: $183,950 (#217 highest pay among all metros)
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $214,370 (98,590 employed)
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
- Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA ($309,800)
- Napa, CA ($302,040)
- Gadsden, AL ($292,110)
Job description: Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
