11 Best Master’s Degrees for the Future

If you are about to finish your undergraduate degree and thinking of going for your master’s degree, our list of the best master’s degrees for the future will help you make the smart decision.

It’s only been two years since I graduated from college, but sometimes I think it may not be a bad idea to go to graduate school. Some days, I can’t imagine having to go back to school to take exams and write lengthy papers. However, if I do decide to pursue higher education, I’m not entirely sure yet, what I would study. While I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, I don’t know if it would be useful or cost effective for me to get a master’s in journalism. So, as you can see, it’s not always easy to decide what the next degree will be. You also want to consider what will benefit you in the long run, especially after forking over all the money for another degree.

In order to get the right answer, you need to consider which fields you are interested in the most and whether these fields can make you substantial earnings each month. If you are just looking for a fast opportunity to get a master’s degree within only one year it is worth reading our previous article about Best Graduate Degrees for a Quick Career Change. But now it is high time for us to consider which field you should enter if you intend to become a professional with higher potential wages, as a master’s degree brings you more money in most cases.

To create our list of best master’s degrees for the future, we relied on information from the Occupational Employment Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics. We would like to help you with ranking those master’s degrees that can bring the best earnings, so we investigated not only the best-paid professions with master’s degree, but selected the states too where it is the highest in the field given. So, for example, if a scientist gets the highest annual salary in the U.S. total, we looked at which state it is the highest. Therefore, you can get tips for what to study and which state it is worth applying for a job with master’s degree. The earnings you can see in our list is always an annual median wage. So if you feel that it is worth spending more money on your graduate education and going for the master’s degree you can consider it as an investment because studying is always the best investment for the future.

Now, let’s take the plunge into the world of numbers in order to see the best master’s degrees for the future.

11. Conservation Scientist (Alaska)

It is not surprising that it is a well-paid job especially in Alaska as we have to conserve our natural treasures and resources. This field has the eleventh position on our list with its average $101,920 salary. The next five states where you can make quite a considerable salary are: Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.

10. Computer Hardware Engineers (Wisconsin)

If you are computer savvy, this field sounds really exciting and it is worth working in for a pretty good annual median wage of $105,120. If you look for other states, you can choose to pursue it among the five other best states: California, New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts.

9. Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists (Mississippi)

If you are interested in health and healthcare, studying to become a psychologist is a great way to go, as you can get $108,500 as a salary in Mississippi. If you are interested in other states, you can check: District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, California.

8. Chemists (District of Columbia)

It is always an exciting field for those interested in science and also means a perfect chance to become a professional with master’s degree, as the salaries can be around $112,780. While the cost of living in Washington D.C. is high, at least you will be making a substantial salary. The next states that offer the best possibilities are: Maryland, Virginia, Alaska, California, and Connecticut.

7. Chemical Engineers (Texas)

Chemical engineering seems to be pretty prosperous as the annual median wages can be at a considerable rate of $117, 940. If you are wondering which the next best states, then head for Delaware, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alaska, and Arizona.

6. Biological Scientists (District of Columbia)

If you haven’t noticed already, science is the way to go when it comes to selecting a degree that is going to pay off in the long run. This field has an attractive $123,880 annual median salary. Here is the list of the next five best locations: New York, New Jersey, Ohio, District of Columbia, and Oregon

5. Biochemists and Biophysicists (Utah)

Coming in halfway through our list of best master’s degrees for the future is another science field. Are you planning to study more biology? Excellent idea! Especially in Utah as you make a high standard of living by earning of $135,240. The other five best states for this field: Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Ohio, Indiana

4. Atmospheric and Space Scientists (Maryland)

Without a shadow of a doubt these fields are difficult to study, but if you are good at this field, you can earn a substantial salary ranging around $153,000 in Maryland, and next five best averages can be found in New Jersey, Virginia, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon.

3. Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (New Hampshire)

Buildings are popping up all over the United States’ cities and someone has to design them. It seems to be a really good choice with an average salary of $170,440 once you’re well into your career. The five next states for this well-paid job are California, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Minnesota.

2. Anthropologists and Archeologists (Maryland)

Are you good at history and would like to work in this field? If so, it can bring you $184,390 as an annual median wage in Maryland and the other best locations you can go to are South Carolina, Washington, D.C., New York, Massachusetts, and Alaska. And now, let’s see the number one on our list of best master’s degrees for the future.

1. Anesthesiologists (District of Columbia)

Last but certainly not least, a master’s degree is definitely beneficial if you get it in anesthesiology. Surprising or not, without a shadow of a doubt this occupation can boost with the highest wage rates at $186,780 in the nation’s capital. The next five best states for this field are Virginia, Utah, Illinois, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico is also a great place for those in the field.

That concludes our list of the best master’s degrees for the future and we hope we have helped you make the next steps toward your future.