Highest paying jobs in Columbus that require a graduate degree

On Mar 12, 2022

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 Columbus, OH 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.

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1 / 50Maj. Jimmy Do // U.S. Air Force

#50. Sociologists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $70,860 (#10 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $93,420 (2,470 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,030)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($115,740)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,090)

Job description: Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

2 / 50Canva

#49. Audiologists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $72,160 (#66 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $89,230 (13,300 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Reno, NV ($151,460)
— Tulsa, OK ($128,620)
— Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($127,210)

Job description: Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems.

3 / 50U.S. Air Force

#48. Epidemiologists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $72,200 (#24 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 180

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,620 (7,500 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,580)
— Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($122,520)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($121,560)

Job description: Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

4 / 50Kenny Holston // flickr

#47. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $72,950 (#18 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $75,430 (14,730 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($135,560)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,140)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($100,260)

Job description: Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

5 / 50Canva

#46. Speech-language pathologists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $74,510 (#225 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 1,150

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.

6 / 50Shane Global // flickr

#45. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $75,450 (#36 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $80,410 (22,790 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($129,500)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($122,220)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,390)

Job description: Teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English. Includes teachers of American Sign Language (ASL). Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.https://cd83d9dc9514d5ece497fc52dfccb80c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

7 / 50Simon Fraser Universtiy // flickr

#44. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $75,900 (#44 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 140

National
– Annual mean salary: $80,940 (28,430 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,510)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($127,650)
— Fresno, CA ($122,590)

Job description: Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

8 / 50Knight Foundation // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Urban and regional planners

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $76,610 (#70 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $79,410 (38,190 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($109,910)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($108,860)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,810)

Job description: Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

9 / 50Suzannekweiss // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $76,970 (#58 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 460

National
– Annual mean salary: $84,060 (61,100 employed)
– Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($145,990)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($120,040)
— Savannah, GA ($117,610)

Job description: Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.https://cd83d9dc9514d5ece497fc52dfccb80c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

10 / 50ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#41. Occupational therapists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $80,410 (#226 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 910

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.

11 / 50Wikimedia Commons

#40. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $83,340 (#110 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 780

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…