Workers with a master’s degree earned a reported $77,844 in 2019, $13,000 more than bachelor’s degree holders and twice the amount of those with just a high school diploma. See more detailed salary data in our chart below.
In a variety of industries, earning a master’s degree can fast-track career growth. A master’s education means more advanced skills and oftentimes preparation for management and executive responsibilities.
Online master’s degrees can help you change careers, both to new positions and to new industries. For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject but want to become a nurse, a direct-entry MSN program can help you get there.
Many colleges with online master’s degrees allow students to choose programs with their own schedule in mind. Asynchronous programs, part-time study, and even accelerated programs can slow down or speed up learning to fit personal needs.
Online learning often cuts out some of the fees required for on-campus students. Many programs also have special tuition rates for online learning, or qualify for in-state tuition.
![A woman wearing glasses sits on a sofa, leaning on one hand while holding a digital tablet. She appears engaged and thoughtful, with a cityscape visible through the window behind her.](https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/More-on-Salary-and-the-Masters-Image-1.png)
![Bar graph comparing average salaries for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Computer Science, Engineering, International Business, and Physics, using blue bars for Bachelor's and red bars for Master's.](https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/More-on-Salary-and-the-Masters-Image.jpg)
![Bar chart comparing starting salaries for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science, Engineering, and Physics, with salary ranges from $20,000 to $100,000.](https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/home-chart-mobile-1.png)