Highest-Paying Doctoral Degrees

Data Summary

Whether you love learning for the sake of it or have a sense of the specific career you want, you might find yourself considering a doctoral degree. There's no doubt that adding a professional title to your name can be extremely rewarding, but do the demands on your time and energy pay off?

Advanced degrees come with a massive investment. Options, such as online doctoral programs, can make graduate school more flexible and accessible. It’s also worth noting that grad school alternatives exist, but the prestige that comes with earning the title “doctor” is often matched with a competitive salary.

13 of the Highest-Paying Doctoral Degrees

1. Systems Engineering

Professionals in the systems engineering field study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and work to design more efficient and effective solutions. This requires in-depth knowledge of engineering, as well as computer science or information systems.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for engineers to grow 7% between 2022 and 2032. For reference, the average projected growth for all occupations is 3%.

• Median Salary (2023): $102,660
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 7% (faster than average)

2. Economics

Due to an increasing dependence on big data analytics, businesses rely increasingly on economic forecasting. Career economists predict business optics, sales, and market trends. Their insight helps businesses strategize about pricing and advertising. Top-paying industries for economists include management, science, and tech consulting services.

• Median Salary (2023): $115,730
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 6% (faster than average)

3. Electrical, Electronics, Communications Engineering

Electrical and electronics engineers develop devices and systems that use electricity. They manage everything from the initial stages of design to testing and supervision of product integration. These engineers play a key role in developing and applying sophisticated electronics, solar arrays, semiconductors, and communications technologies.

• Median Salary (2023): $106,950
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 5% (faster than average)

4. Information Science and Studies

An interdisciplinary field, information science combines computer science, library science, and information management. It is the study of how information is created, organized, stored, and used. With increasing demands for new and better technology, there is a great need for new solutions to data management.

• Median Salary (2022): $145,370
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 23% (much faster than average)

5. Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers design power-producing machines such as generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They possess knowledge about how these machines work, combining physics and math. As one of the oldest branches of engineering, mechanical engineers are projected to be in high demand over the coming years.

• Median Salary (2023): $99,510
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 10% (much faster than average)

6. Computer and Information Sciences (General)

With the BLS projecting a much faster growth rate for computer and information sciences roles than for all other occupations, professionals in this field are in high demand. As computer interfacing becomes more integrated into daily life, specialized knowledge about programming, data storage and management, and software integration is more necessary than ever, for businesses and individuals alike.

• Median Salary (2023): $145,080
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 23% (much faster than average)

7. Computer and Information Technology Administration and Management

Computer tech administrators, or IT managers, help keep companies up to date with their technology. They construct business plans, oversee network security, and direct online operations. Leading teams within an organization, they might install or upgrade hardware and software, work on programming and systems design, or build websites.

• Median Salary (2023): $169,510
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 15% (much faster than average)

8. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

Like medical school, pharmacy school typically requires four years of training from an accredited Pharm.D. program. Strong applicants have undergraduate coursework in anatomy, physiology, physics, and statistics, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry.

Once licensed, pharmacists have several options for a career path. A Pharm.D. can lead to positions working directly with patients, more industry-related jobs in pharmaceuticals, or consulting roles for healthcare or insurance providers.

• Median Salary (2023): $136,030
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 3% (average)

9. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, Clinical Nursing

Doctoral programs in nursing train students to ensure and improve the quality of patient care in either leadership or research positions. Research in these programs typically covers evidence-based practice, quality improvement, leadership, policy advocacy, informatics, and systems thinking. Recent nursing shortages have created demand for professionals in the field.

• Median Salary (2023): $86,070
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 6% (faster than average)

10. Dentistry

Dentists can practice with a DDS or DMD degree. Specializations, including orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, typically require an additional 2-6 years of training in a residence program. The growing popularity of cosmetic dentistry explains the steady demand for dentists and specialists.

• Median Salary (2023): $166,300
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 4% (average)

11. Physics

Physics research can take different paths, including within applied physics and theoretical physics. On the theoretical side, physicists use complex machines to learn more about the properties of matter and energy. Graduates can find many opportunities in applied physics, working on advancing the use of existing theories to develop new technologies.

• Median Salary (2023): $155,680
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 5% (faster than average)

12. Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering

Commonly known as “rocket scientists,” aerospace engineers design, develop, and test flight vehicles of all kinds. Technological advancements have made outer space increasingly accessible. The faster-than-average growth of this field may be due to growing commercial interest in using drones for new projects, such as forest fire prevention, and personal interest in space travel.

• Median Salary (2023): $130,720
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 6% (faster than average)

13. Bioethics and Medical Ethics

Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field combining biology, technology, and medicine. Advancements in medical technologies create new moral dilemmas, such as questions about the fair distribution of resources, genetic modification, or the use of human subjects in research. Bioethicists help write policies and guidelines for use in hospitals and clinics to ensure ethical standards are met.

• Median Salary (2022): $120,330
• Projected Job Growth (2022-2032): 10% (much faster than average)

Top-Paying Doctoral Degrees: Full List

Recent data from the U.S. Department of Education shows the highest-paying doctoral degrees. This calculation is based on the median salary in a field of study four years after graduation. To be included, individuals had to have completed their degree, be currently employed, and not be currently enrolled in school.

Note: For disciplines/fields marked with an *, fewer than 20 doctoral programs in the field reported median incomes for graduates four years after graduation.

How Much Do Other Popular Ph.D.s Pay?

Take a quick glance at the median salaries for doctoral degree programs in the humanities, natural and social sciences, and public services.