Top Careers With a Master’s Degree
With the right master's degree, you could pursue a top role in your field and become a financial analyst, human resources manager or computer and information research scientist, among a number of other options.
According to Dr. Susan McKenzie, a senior associate dean of STEM programs at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), your human and technical skills drive your employability. A master's can help you develop both.
“The most valuable master's degree doesn't teach you knowledge,” she said. “It helps build adaptive learning skills and individuals who can lead, analyze, innovate and collaborate in a rapidly evolving world.”
What Are the Best Jobs You Can Get With a Master's Degree?
It's hard to point to the best jobs you can get with a master's degree because the answer will be different for everyone. It all depends on your interests, goals and strengths.
That said, here are a few top roles you could pursue across various fields with master's programs to match:
1. Financial Analyst
A master's in finance can help launch your career as a financial analyst, a role that earned a median salary of $101,910 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).* Jobs for financial analysts are projected to grow 9% by 2033, the BLS said — more than twice as fast as the average 4% growth projected for all occupations in that same period.*
2. Information Security Analyst
Earning a master's in cybersecurity could lead you to a career as an information security analyst. This role commanded a median annual salary of $124,910 in 2024, according to the BLS, and is projected to grow a substantial 33% through 2033.*
3. Human Resources Manager
A master's in human resources could help you climb the ranks from human resources specialist to human resources manager. Human resources managers earned a median salary of $140,030 in 2024, and the role is expected to grow 6% by 2033, the BLS said.*
4. Medical and Health Services Manager
With a master's in healthcare administration, you could work as a medical or health services manager. According to the BLS, medical and health services managers made a median salary of $117,960 in 2024, and this position is projected to grow 29% by 2033, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.*
5. Operations Research Analyst
A master's in data analytics could help you become an operations research analyst. These professionals earned $91,290 in 2024, the BLS said, and the role is also expected to grow significantly, with a 23% growth rate through 2033.*
What Master's Degree is Most in Demand?
According to Hayden Mailloux, an admissions counselor at SNHU, the Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction is also a consistently popular graduate program. He also noted that the master's in computer science is in high demand among prospective students.
“I'm seeing quite an influx of that specifically because it does have a focus in artificial intelligence (AI),” he said.
McKenzie agreed, noting that there are numerous new opportunities available to those with an advanced computer science education.
“STEM Masters degrees, especially in emerging fields like AI, sustainability and data science, are often gateways to cutting‑edge roles in a company,” she said.
What Master's Degree Pays the Most?
Your salary can be dependent on several factors, but a master's degree could certainly lead to a position that brings in a higher‑than‑average income. Here are some of the top‑paying opportunities for a few master's programs:
•Master of Science in Computer Science: With a master's in computer science, you could pursue a career as a computer and information research scientist. This role earned a median salary of $140,910 in 2024*.
•Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): If you're already working as a nurse, earning an MSN could help you reach some top‑paying nursing careers. For example, you could become a nurse practitioner with a specialized Family Nurse Practitioner MSN. Nurse practitioners earned a median salary of $129,210 in 2024, and opportunities are projected to grow 46% by 2033 — more than 10 times faster than the projected growth rate for all roles
