Learn about the average salaries associate with master's degrees, plus get a list of the highest-paying master's degrees.
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Earning a master鈥檚 degree comes with several benefits, but perhaps the most enticing are salary and career growth prospects. Explore key facts to know:
Master鈥檚 degree holders in the United States make an average of $1,840 per week [].
The salary you earn as a master鈥檚 degree earner will likely depend on what you choose to study.
You can explore career paths, such as becoming a research scientist, physician assistant, or epidemiologist, with a master鈥檚 degree.
Several factors may make a master鈥檚 degree worth pursuing for you. In general, master鈥檚 degrees are associated with higher salaries, lower unemployment rates, greater lifetime earnings, and increased career advancement opportunities compared with lower education levels, such as a bachelor鈥檚 degree or high school diploma.
Discover the average salary for people with a master鈥檚 degree.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people with a master鈥檚 degree in the United States earn a median of $1,840 weekly, which roughly translates to $95,680 annually [].
Overall, people with a master鈥檚 degree tend to earn more money than those with a bachelor鈥檚 degree, associate degree, or high school diploma, but less than those with a doctorate or professional degree. Generally, the higher your education credentials, the more money you stand to make. Additionally, people with higher education credentials tend to experience lower unemployment rates.
Here鈥檚 a look at salary data across all education levels, according to the BLS []:
| Highest degree | Median weekly earnings | Estimated annual earnings | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma | $930 | $48,360 | 4.2% |
| Associate degree | $1,099 | $57,148 | 2.8% |
| Bachelor鈥檚 degree | $1,543 | $80,236 | 2.5% |
| Master鈥檚 degree | $1,840 | $95,680 | 2.2% |
| Doctorate degree | $2,278 | $118,456 | 1.2% |
| Professional degree | $2,363 | $122,876 | 1.3% |
Keep in mind that this data is generated from salaries across all fields, industries, and locations, and these can be important factors to consider when trying to forecast your potential earnings at any education level.
Read more: What Is a Good Salary?
Earning a master鈥檚 degree won鈥檛 automatically increase your salary, but with a master鈥檚 degree, you may qualify for higher-paying positions or career advancement opportunities. Learn more about whether a master鈥檚 degree is worth the investment for you.
Your anticipated salary with a master鈥檚 degree will, in part, depend on your field of study. In specific fields, a master鈥檚 degree is a widely accepted way to demonstrate advanced skills development and expertise. In others, a master鈥檚 degree may have less of an impact on your expected salary.
According to a survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the master鈥檚 degree disciplines with the highest average starting salary are engineering, computer science, math and sciences, and business []. Business, computer science, and engineering degrees are also the most in-demand master鈥檚 degrees among employers [].
Here are the average starting salaries for a selection of master鈥檚 degrees, according to NACE []:
| Master鈥檚 degree major | Average starting salary (2024) |
|---|---|
| Computer engineering | $86,804 |
| Software engineering | $83,924 |
| Computer science | $86,359 |
| Information sciences and systems | $84,316 |
| Business administration/management | $83,023 |
| Logistics/supply chain | $73,178 |
| Economics | $79,752 |
| Marketing | $85,919 |
For certain job functions, a master鈥檚 degree can be a typical entry-level requirement. This tends to be more prevalent in careers requiring in-depth knowledge or professional licenses, such as health care or education administration.
Here are the median salaries and projected growth rates for roles with a master鈥檚 degree as the typical entry-level education, according to the BLS []:
| Occupation | Median salary (2024) | Growth rate (2024-2034) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and information research scientists | $100,000 or more | Much faster than average |
| Nurse practitioners | $100,000 or more | Much faster than average |
| Physician assistants | $100,000 or more | Much faster than average |
| Economists | $100,000 or more | Slower than average |
| Education administrators (postsecondary) | $100,000 or more | Slower than average |
| Psychologists | $100,000 or more | As fast as average |
| Epidemiologists | $75,000 to $99,999 | Much faster than average |
| Urban and regional planners | $75,000 to $99,999 | As fast as average |
| Survey researchers | $50,000 to $74,999 | Decline |
| Social workers | $50,000 to $74,999 | Much faster than average |

If you are considering pursuing a master鈥檚 degree to increase your salary, it鈥檚 worth researching the types of master鈥檚 degrees that best position you to reach your salary and career goals.
For example, if your goal is to earn a specific salary, you may start by researching the types of roles in your field that tend to earn salaries within your desired range, then look into the typical education expectations for those roles. Or, if your goal is to reach a top-paying position in a specific role, you may scour job descriptions or research the typical education path of the people currently in those top-paying positions.
Websites like the BLS鈥檚 Occupational Outlook Handbook or Zippia tend to offer these types of salary and education insights. Approaching your education thoughtfully can enable you to pursue the advancement path that鈥檚 worth the investment for you, whether that鈥檚 a master鈥檚 degree, certificate program, or otherwise.
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2025/data-on-display/education-pays.htm.鈥 Accessed January 16, 2025.
National Association of Colleges and Employers. 鈥, https://www.uwosh.edu/career/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2024/01/Winter-2024-Salary-Survey-Report.pdf.鈥 Accessed October 29, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/occupation-finder.htm?pay=&education=Master%26rsquo%3Bs+degree&training=&newjobs=&growth=&submit=GO.鈥 Accessed October 29, 2025.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.