10 Best Graduate Degrees for Teachers

If you are a teacher or prospective teacher with your Bachelor’s degree, but you are considering going back to school, keep reading to learn about the best graduate degrees for teachers.

If you are interested in applying to some of the nation’s top universities in order to obtain your Master’s, also check out our list of Top 7 Ivy League colleges for Graduate degrees.

It is almost never a bad idea to reach for higher education, if you have the means to do so. It is worth noting that teachers with Master’s degrees generally make more money per year than those who do not, regardless of what it is that they are teaching. Considering getting your Master’s as a teacher is definitely not a bad idea. Not only will you likely make more money, you will also have more in-depth knowledge of the subject you are teaching; thus, you have the potential to be the most effective teacher possible. Though it can cost a great deal of money to undergo a Master’s program, you can consider the money you spend as an investment in yourself, your students, and your future bank account. 

In order to build our list of the best graduate degrees for teachers, we considered two main factors: how much money a teacher with a specific Master’s degree can make on average in the US, and which states specifically pay the most in that field of teaching. For instance, if teaching in Field A makes enough to be featured on our list, then we determined which 5 states pay the most to those working as teachers in Field A. This will help you not only to decide which fields may be most advantageous to study and enter as a professional, but also where it might be best to apply for a job in your field. The highest paying state for each field/degree is notated with an asterisk (*). For this research, we consulted Occupational Employment Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Keep in mind that we understand money isn’t everything. But for this article, salary is the best quantifiable piece of data we can use to determine which degrees are “best”.

Without further ado, here is our list of best graduate degrees for teachers.

10. Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences

Annual median wage: $110,630

Best states: Indiana*, Massachusetts, Arizona, Utah, California, Missouri

9. Economics

Annual median wage: $113,450

Best states: New Hampshire*, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Indiana.

8. Business

Annual median wage: $114,220

Best states: Massachusetts*, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland.

7. Biological Science

Annual median wage: $115,650

Best states: Hawaii*, North Dakota, New Hampshire, California, New York, Utah.

6. Physics

Annual median wage: $116,830

Best states: New Hampshire*, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, District of Columbia, Oregon.

5. Engineering

Annual median wage: $121, 950

Best states: Alabama*, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, New Mexico, California.

4. Forestry and Conservation Science

Annual median wage: $126,770

Best states: California*, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Washington.

3. Health Specialties

Annual median wage: $129,560

Best states: Washington*, Connecticut, Utah, Mississippi, Iowa, Oregon.

2. Sociology

Annual median wage: $138,870

Best states: Rhode Island*, Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Vermont.

1. Law

Annual median wage: $145,380

Best states: Maryland*, Iowa, Utah, New Mexico, Massachusetts

Now you could see which field it is worth studying in if you want to know the best graduate degrees for teachers as these were the top ten fields where workers earn the most.

Based on our research, these are the best graduate degrees for teachers. If you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, and you are interested in any of these fields, definitely consider looking into Master’s programs in one of these arenas.