Acquiring a master’s degree alongside the experience would also provide a better salary package than other lower levels.
A graduate degree as it is also called is acquired after completing undergraduate studies at the University. This is a higher-level academic qualification that helps students gain a deep understanding of the subject they choose to study.
However, going to graduate school can be very challenging due to the cost, time, and classroom demands but it is always worth it in the end. Having a master’s degree certificate will put you in a position to target senior-level jobs that come with bigger responsibilities as well as juicy salary offers that a First-degree graduate will not get.
Many advanced degrees lead to good-paying jobs, but some can quickly bring you career success. Even though it’s tempting, it’s crucial for students to pick a career they are genuinely interested in, as this ensures they perform at their best.
What is a master’s degree?
A master’s degree is an educational qualification in a specialized area that can be earned after completing an undergraduate degree course. This advanced degree takes about two to three years to complete in any University.
Top Paying Master’s Degrees for Lucrative Career
#1. Aerospace Engineering
- Average Salary: $149,400 per annum
Not quite a popular one if you ask me but Aerospace Engineering is currently growing fast and so is the demand for specialists in this field. By pursuing a master’s degree in this special field, you will be positioning yourself for a lucrative career that can earn you a lot of money.
As a Specialist in Aerospace Engineering, you will be equipped with the skills needed to construct, test, repair, and maintain aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Having acquired these skills, you will be able to use your knowledge across many industries.
Being a very technical area, there are not many applicants for the job which should put you in a strong position to negotiate better with your employers.
#2. Business Administration
- Average Salary: $88,000 per annum
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most attractive advanced degrees for business students. This is a program that will prepare students to take the forefront in any establishment. As a student, you will gain insights into managing people, businesses, resources, and time to achieve goals in an organization.
The position of a Business Administrator can be very broad as much will be required of you. Working as one will require a lot including good communication skills, and the ability to make informed decisions.
Earning this master’s degree can lead to a successful career as business owners are always looking for experienced administrators. It is also important to know that your salary will depend on your working experience, projects undertaken so far, the organization itself, location, and economic condition.
#3. Nursing
- Average Salary: $104,830 per annum
Attaining a degree in this role will open you to several doors of opportunity as the demand for this position is high. Still, you can also take several steps further by acquiring a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from any reputable university.
This graduate degree program is designed for registered nurses (RNs) who are looking to advance their careers and in turn open themselves to financial security.
As a Nursing, you will be taught how to handle patients’ needs and plan health goals. As a caregiver working with doctors, your duties include taking care of physical needs, preventing illness, and addressing health conditions.
#4. Data Science
- Average Salary: $96,028 per annum
The Master of Science in Data Science program is another graduate degree program that could provide graduates of this program with an opportunity to earn massively after school’s life.
The program is designed to give students a clear understanding of extracting knowledge or insights from various types of data, whether organized or not. It will cover data analysis, modeling, statistical methods, and machine-learning techniques.
At the end of the program, you will be more knowledgeable about the practice and theory of data science which can be useful for businesses or establishments to find patterns to make smarter and informed decisions.
#5. Finance
- Average Salary: $95,570 per annum
By obtaining a Master of Science in Finance (MSF), you can have a quick and clear path to a successful career. Graduates of this program will receive a theoretical understanding of current finance issues and a solid foundation in research methods.
After your graduation, you will be able to oversee end-to-end finance operations, reconcile balance sheets, and interpret financial information.
#6. Information Technology
- Average Salary: $97,430 per annum
The M.Sc. Information Technology program is tailored for graduates with a focus on research in Computer Science and Information Technology. While having a basic understanding of Information Technology is rewarding, as graduates of this program will elevate you to a high level of expertise in IT. This, in turn, leads to a rewarding career.
This graduate degree can be obtained by any student including those from an Arts and Social Sciences background as long as they satisfy the requirements. You will learn how to design websites and applications, including important security aspects.
The program covers important aspects of IT administration and software development. On the administration side, it includes topics like database development, enterprise computing, cloud computing, security, and project management. On the software development side, it covers programming, human-centered design, testing, and various development theories and practices.
#7. Computer Hardware Engineering
- Average Salary: $132,360 per annum
A Master of Science in Computer Hardware Engineering is designed for students who want to have a deep understanding of systems, software, and communication technology.
In computer engineering classes, students will be introduced to topics such as wireless networks, distributed systems, embedded systems, software engineering, computer vision, robotics, and time series signal processing.
After their time in the classroom, they will come across a lot of opportunities in a wide range of fields and institutions which could lead to a rewarding career.
#8. Economics
- Average Salary: $101,813 per annum
The Master of Economics (MEcon or MEc) is a postgraduate master’s degree in economics designed to provide students with deep knowledge of institutional knowledge and practical tools to analyze prevalent economic challenges.
With this graduate degree, you will have an opportunity to learn more and advance your studies even with a deeper knowledge of various economic theories including economic theories.
#9. Pediatrics
- Average Salary: $136,077 per annum
Another graduate degree certificate with a rewarding career is the Pediatrics and Child Health program which is for students who want to learn child and infant health care.
This will be an advanced level and you will be taken through different stages of courses which include child growth, development, nutrition, and diseases. During your time as a student, you will spend up to three years in one of the department’s various research groups.
#10. Petroleum Engineer
- Average Salary: $112,263 per annum
The MSc in Petroleum Engineering is one of the Master’ Degrees that can provide the opportunity to earn a bigger wage. The program is designed to expose students to knowledge of different methods of finding oil and gas, how to drill wells, the process, and many more.
As a Petroleum Engineer, your work can take you all over and outside the country but with a very attractive pay and bonus for your effort. You can work in different positions in a private or government establishment such as Petroleum geologists, Drilling engineers, Production engineers, and Reservoir engineers.
#11. Pharmacy
- Average Salary: $112,139 per annum
Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences (M.Pharm.) is a post-graduate that can be obtained after a student completes an undergraduate degree program.
The study entails knowing everything to know about drugs, such as their discovery, development, and the reactions of patients to the drugs.
In the world of healthcare, pharmacists play a crucial role as experts in medicine and they work with doctors, nurses, and dentists. Understanding the science behind drugs will get you a lot of attractive offers as the healthcare field usually offers more than most fields.
#12. Surgery
- Average Salary: $431,265 per annum
Doctors who perform operations on people are well paid for their stressful and delicate jobs that require a lot of dedication, experience, and steady hands.
The Master of Surgery (MChir) is a research degree designed to train, nurture, and advance the careers of trainee surgeons. This provides them the opportunity to conduct academic research in clinical or laboratory settings across various departments and faculties.
#13. Industrial Engineering
- Average Salary: $85,604 per annum
Acquiring a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering can get you a highly rewarding career and exciting opportunity because the economy needs engineers. The study is all about making things better and more efficient.
In simple terms, as a student, you will learn to make and design things. This means turning what you have in theory into a hands-on experience while also making sure you use time, money, and resources wisely for efficient productivity and less waste.
