This is a cross-post by guest author Alex Summers. Alex is a blogger, freelance writer and recent college graduate. She currently performs market research for an online marketing firm when she is not contributing her own thoughts and observations to the online community

As the job market becomes more competitive, obtaining a degree creates a significant advantage in securing employment. People who complete an undergraduate education typically fare better than those with a high school diploma, but several career paths require a master’s or doctoral degree for maximum benefit.

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected job growth rates and median annual salaries, the following list highlights the top ten advanced degrees worth having.

PharmD – Pharmacist occupations, projected to grow faster than average, have a median salary of $112,000. Some schools such as South University Savannah offer programs combining the PharmD and MBA, which increases students’ marketability.

MS in Biomedical Engineering – The BLS projected growth rate for jobs in biomedical engineering is a whopping 62%! These jobs have a median salary of $80,000.

MSN- Having a master’s degree in the quickly expanding field of nursing offers a significant income boost as nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $90,000.

MS in Computer Science – Computer science positions, expected to grow at an average rate, generate median earnings around $100,000.

MS in Physician Assistant Studies - Physician assistant jobs are in high demand. Workers in this profession earn promising median salaries of $86,000.

MBA- This versatile degree allows students to gain expertise useful in a wide range of business administration careers, some of which offer six-figure salaries.

PsyD- A doctoral degree in psychology grants entry into a rapidly growing career field. Psychologists’ median salary is about $69,000.

MS in Speech-Language Pathology- With job rates projected to grow faster than average, careers in speech-language pathology have median salaries around $66,920.

MA in Anthropology/Archaeology - The number of jobs in anthropology and archaeology are increasing at a rate faster than average. The median income for anthropologists and archaeologists is about $54,000.

MSW- The anticipated growth rate for social workers is above average. With an MSW, potential employees can earn a median salary of around $48,000.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue an advanced degree should not be influenced by money alone. Instead, those who wish to complete graduate level work should have passion for their career fields and commitment to their goals because advanced degrees require a great deal of time and energy. Future business leaders, healthcare practitioners, and human services workers will find these advance degrees to be worthy investments in successful careers.