If you're planning to enrol in a master's degree program in 2025, one of the essential factors you should evaluate is its return on investment. After all, simply having a master's after your name has no real value if it only confers honours and makes you look good on paper.
You need to ensure that the year or two that you spend in study, research, and juggling multiple responsibilities (studies, your job, and personal life) bring tangible benefits to your career for the long-term and offer value in the form of new business opportunities, career progression, and of course, a lucrative salary to match.
To help you arrive at your final decision, this article puts together a list of six of the highest-paying master's degrees, backed by thorough research of the most commonly cited master's degrees that lead to high-earning potential, and of course, emerging industry trends.
6 Highest-Paying Master's Degrees To Pursue In 2025
There are certain master's degrees that stand out for their return-on-investment potential, particularly in industries that are STEM-related, as well as in the finance and business sectors. These include:
1. MBA (Master of Business Administration)
An MBA is one of the best master's degrees you can obtain, not only because it is lucrative but also because it covers a wide range of disciplines and industries. In fact, every sector and industry has a need for someone with an MBA. It's an all-purpose degree that can be applied to different career paths and is adaptable enough to suit multiple career goals, enabling you to climb the ranks as a project manager, director, CEO, board member, or even independently as an entrepreneur. Many business and management consultants and advisers tend to have MBAs as well.
2. Master of Science In Nursing
An MSN degree opens the door to higher paying roles in healthcare. For example, you may already have an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, and passed the state exam, however you might want to take your skills a bit further as a registered nurse (RN) and lead a unit in a hospital, for example. Studying for your master of science in nursing will certainly help you achieve this objective.
3. Masters In Economics/Finance
Economics and finance postgraduates go on to work in lucrative careers such as management consultants, economists, auditors, and bankers, working in financial institutions as well as having government job opportunities.
A role as a senior banker, for instance, can see you earning up to $159,000 a year, while a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) role makes as much as $577,800 a year on the highest end of the pay scale.
4. Master of Science In Computer Science
With a master's degree in computer science, you have access to higher pay in a wide range of career paths, such as senior software or web development, cybersecurity management, business intelligence, and computer forensics roles, and even senior-level roles such as vice president or director. This is an industry with not only strong earning potential but positive career projections, experiencing job growth with a wave of 356,700 new jobs in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
5. Master of Science In Machine Learning
We all know that the science behind artificial intelligence is machine learning and data science. What if you could take your AI knowledge and expertise a bit further? Gaining a master's will certainly give you an advantage as employers rush for highly-skilled tech talent.
6. Master's Degree In Health Informatics
Studying this degree affords you a specialized, comprehensive understanding of the computer systems used within healthcare and how to effectively and ethically manage this data for the good of patients and the delivery of better healthcare. This can lead to a role as a clinical informatics manager, which pays as much as $130,000 annually.
Other lucrative master's degrees include:
- Masters In biomedical Engineering
- Master of Science in Information Technology
- Master of Engineering
- Master of Architecture
Of course, the salary figures represented are averages and can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry you decide to work in (i.e. a non-profit role will, of course, pay less, as a rule, than a private sector (and in some cases, public sector) job.
However, salary aside, if you pursue a master's degree in medicine and healthcare, technology, business, or finance, it's unlikely that you will regret it. The ROI from the experiences and networking connections you gain are priceless.
