Top Careers With a Master's Degree

To start a new career in a competitive job market, you'll need to impress potential employers in any way you can. If you're thinking about getting a master's degree, you probably already have your eye on the prize — a top job in your field of choice.

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:

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.*

Learn more about how to become a financial analyst.

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.*

Discover how to get into cybersecurity.

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.*

Read more about how to become a human resources manager.

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.*

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?

The Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction is also a consistently popular graduate program, according to Hayden Mailloux, an admissions counselor at SNHU. 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. "And there's always a huge need for more STEM-related careers and those working in that field. "

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.

Learn more about the different types of graduate degrees.

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 degree 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.*
  
  

• Master of Business Administration (MBA). An MBA is a versatile degree that can lead to a variety of different roles in business. For instance, you might become a management analyst. The BLS reported that management analysts earned $101,190 in 2024, and the position is projected to grow 11% by 2033.*

  And at SNHU, you can choose from 17 types of MBA concentrations if you're looking for a more specialized role.

There are plenty of other careers you could pursue with a master's degree, too, so keep researching before you make your final choice. You can also speak with an admissions counselor to learn more about a specific program and determine if it's a good fit for you.

"I can't stress enough the importance of actually being able to speak to your admission counselor on the phone," Mailloux said. "They're there to help support you and bring you one step closer to your goal, but they also want to be able to make sure the program is going to be a right fit for you."

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. They're currently writing their debut novel, which was Longlisted for The First Pages Prize. Connect with them on LinkedIn.