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Careers with Graduate Degrees

There are many careers that require advanced degrees such as doctor, lawyer, college professor, counselors, and much more. A career requiring a graduate degree means you will spend 6 - 10 years earning your degrees (Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate) before you are ready to fully enter the workforce in your profession. To ensure that time, and money, is worth it, find a career that both fits your interests and that is in demand with future growth potential.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that these ten careers requiring a graduate degree will grow faster than others with similar educational requirements.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists solve workplace problems by applying psychological principles to them. One must earn a master's degree from a program that specializes in this field of study to work as an I-O psychologist. Employment is expected to grow by 53% through 2022. Median annual earnings of industrial-organizational psychologists were $80,330 in 2013.


Genetic Counselor

Genetic counselors analyze the risk an individual or couple has of conceiving a child who has a genetic disorder or birth defect. To work in this field, one needs at least a master's degree in genetics or genetic counseling. Many genetic counselors have a Ph.D. Employment is expected to grow by 41% through 2022. Genetic counselors earned a median annual salary of $63,590 in 2013.


Physician Assistant

Physician assistants, under physicians' supervision, perform examinations and treat injuries and illnesses. To practice, they need a master's degree from a physician assistant training program. Employment of physician assistants is expected to grow by 38% through 2022. Median annual earnings were $92,970 in 2013.


Postsecondary Health Specialties Teacher

Postsecondary health specialties teachers instruct high school graduates in a variety of health-related courses, including laboratory technology, therapy, dentistry and veterinary science. One typically needs a doctorate to work in this occupation, but at some institutions, a master's degree will suffice. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 36% through 2022. Median annual earnings were $85,030 in 2013.


Marriage and Family Therapists

Marriage and family therapists work with clients who have psychiatric disorders including anxiety, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and substance abuse. They work with families, couples, and individuals, taking into consideration the effect of relationships on these disorders and vice versa. One needs a master's degree in marriage and family therapy to practice this profession. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 29% through 2022. The median annual salary was $48,160 in 2013.


Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and prosthetists, commonly called O & P professionals, design and fit patients for medical supportive devices including artificial limbs. They must earn a master's degree and complete a one-year residency program before they can practice. O & P professionals are expected to experience job growth of 36% through 2022. Annual median earnings were $62,970 in 2013.


Postsecondary Nursing Instructors

Postsecondary nursing instructors teach patient care to nursing students. They work in the classroom and clinical settings. To do this, one needs at least a master's degree in nursing. This occupation is expected to grow by 35% through 2022. In 2013 median annual earnings were $65,940.


Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners provide primary healthcare to patients. One must earn a master's degree after first getting a degree in nursing. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 34% through 2022. Nurse practitioners earned a median annual salary of $92,670 in 2013.


Physical Therapists

Physical therapists (PTs) work with people who have disabling conditions or who have been in accidents. They provide treatment that restores their patients' functions, improves their mobility, relieves pain, and prevents or limits permanent physical disabilities. Their training includes earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Employment in this field is expected to grow by 36% through 2022. Median annual earnings were $81,030 in 2012.


Audiologists

Audiologists diagnose hearing problems and balance disorders. They then treat these issues after determining their causes and their impact on the patients. To become an audiologist, one must earn a Doctor of Audiology degree (AuD). We can expect to see a 34% growth in employment through 2022. Audiologists earned a median annual salary of $71,170 in 2012.

 

Sources:
CareerOneStop, Fastest-Growing Occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook
O*NET OnLine

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