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Job outlook for masters in the United States
Master job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected master job growth rate is 1% from 2018-2028.
About 10,600 new jobs for masters are projected over the next decade.
Master salaries have increased 15% for masters in the last 5 years.
There are over 26,285 masters currently employed in the United States.
There are 19,667 active master job openings in the US.
The average master salary is $69,786.
Are master jobs in demand?
No, master jobs are not in demand. Master demand is projected to decline 1% from 2018 to 2028.
Master job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of master jobs and the average master salary over time.
Master jobs over time
Master job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,285 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 25,881 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,351 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 27,047 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 26,699 | 0.01% |
Average master salary over time
Master salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,786 | $33.55 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $66,680 | $32.06 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $64,494 | $31.01 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $62,656 | $30.12 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | $60,946 | $29.30 | +1.6% |
Master jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of master job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where masters earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for masters
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 62 | 9% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 471 | 6% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 34 | 4% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 36 | 3% |
| 5 | California | 39,536,653 | 594 | 2% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 195 | 2% |
| 7 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 187 | 2% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 167 | 2% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 148 | 2% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 139 | 2% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 130 | 2% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 121 | 2% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 104 | 2% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 69 | 2% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 64 | 2% |
| 16 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 61 | 2% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 26 | 2% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 14 | 2% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 12 | 2% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 11 | 2% |
Most common cities for masters
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alton | 3 | 11% | $57,478 |
| 2 | Dartmouth | 2 | 6% | $81,238 |
| 3 | Eastvale | 2 | 4% | $76,435 |
| 4 | Tracy | 3 | 3% | $82,251 |
| 5 | Milpitas | 2 | 3% | $82,750 |
| 6 | Allentown | 2 | 2% | $81,427 |
| 7 | Fall River | 2 | 2% | $81,025 |
| 8 | Mountain View | 2 | 2% | $82,945 |
| 9 | San Francisco | 5 | 1% | $83,472 |
| 10 | Stockton | 3 | 1% | $82,160 |
| 11 | Columbus | 2 | 1% | $79,779 |
| 12 | Hayward | 2 | 1% | $83,024 |
| 13 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $61,117 |
| 14 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $79,585 |
| 15 | Seattle | 3 | 0% | $75,355 |
| 16 | Fort Worth | 2 | 0% | $85,560 |
| 17 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $89,430 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $77,268 |