Occupations needing a master's degree with the most open jobs
Key facts
- #1 Computer and information research scientists, Master's degree: 2,549 jobs
- #2 Education administrators, postsecondary, Master's degree: 651 jobs
- #3 Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, Master's degree: 389 jobs
- 15 occupations ranked across all occupations
- Data as of November 2026
- 1Computer and information research scientists Master's degree2,549 jobs
- 2Education administrators, postsecondary Master's degree651 jobs
- 3Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary Master's degree389 jobs
- 4Statisticians Master's degree298 jobs
- 5Instructional coordinators Master's degree239 jobs
- 6Economists Master's degree93 jobs
- 7Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors Master's degree92 jobs
- 8Urban and regional planners Master's degree88 jobs
- 9Mathematicians Master's degree53 jobs
- 10Healthcare social workers Master's degree45 jobs
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Computer and information research scientists (2,549 jobs) is well clear of Healthcare social workers at #10 (45 jobs).
- Healthcare social workers reaches #10 on a sample of 45 open jobs, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Computer and information research scientists is the largest market in the top ten, with 2,549 open jobs behind its figure.
- Occupations with fewer than 30 open jobs are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Behind every education level is a list of specific jobs. Ranking occupations by open jobs shows which ones the employers we track are hiring for most at a given level of schooling.
How to use it
If you are planning a move into a new occupation, start with the ones near the top: more openings means more employers to approach. Check the pay and growth beside each before you commit.
The top 25
- 1
Computer and information research scientists Master's degree
2,549 jobs
- Open jobs
- 2,549
- Median posted pay
- $205k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +21.8%
- Workers in the occupation
- 38,600
Based on 2,549 openings.
- 2
Education administrators, postsecondary Master's degree
651 jobs
- Open jobs
- 651
- Median posted pay
- $150k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +1.8%
- Workers in the occupation
- 231,800
Based on 651 openings.
- 3
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary Master's degree
389 jobs
- Open jobs
- 389
- Median posted pay
- $139k
- Projected growth to 2035
- −0.3%
- Workers in the occupation
- 343,800
Based on 389 openings.
- 4
Statisticians Master's degree
298 jobs
- Open jobs
- 298
- Median posted pay
- $204k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +11.0%
- Workers in the occupation
- 31,300
Based on 298 openings.
- 5
Instructional coordinators Master's degree
239 jobs
- Open jobs
- 239
- Median posted pay
- $104k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +1.6%
- Workers in the occupation
- 248,700
Based on 239 openings.
- 6
Economists Master's degree
93 jobs
- Open jobs
- 93
- Median posted pay
- $134k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +4.7%
- Workers in the occupation
- 18,600
Based on 93 openings.
- 7
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors Master's degree
92 jobs
- Open jobs
- 92
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- +2.9%
- Workers in the occupation
- 389,500
Based on 92 openings.
- 8
Urban and regional planners Master's degree
88 jobs
- Open jobs
- 88
- Median posted pay
- $173k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +3.9%
- Workers in the occupation
- 45,800
Based on 88 openings.
- 9
Mathematicians Master's degree
53 jobs
- Open jobs
- 53
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- +0.6%
- Workers in the occupation
- 2,200
Based on 53 openings.
- 10
Healthcare social workers Master's degree
45 jobs
- Open jobs
- 45
- Median posted pay
- $133k
- Projected growth to 2035
- +8.5%
- Workers in the occupation
- 194,800
Based on 45 openings.
- 11
Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other Master's degree
40 jobs
- Open jobs
- 40
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- +5.5%
- Workers in the occupation
- 39,600
Based on 40 openings.
- 12
Survey researchers Master's degree
37 jobs
- Open jobs
- 37
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- −4.8%
- Workers in the occupation
- 9,800
Based on 37 openings.
- 13
Physician assistants Master's degree
34 jobs
- Open jobs
- 34
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- +21.1%
- Workers in the occupation
- 168,900
Based on 34 openings.
- 14
Occupational therapists Master's degree
32 jobs
- Open jobs
- 32
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- +14.8%
- Workers in the occupation
- 169,600
Based on 32 openings.
- 15
Political scientists Master's degree
30 jobs
- Open jobs
- 30
- Median posted pay
- Not enough pay data
- Projected growth to 2035
- −2.0%
- Workers in the occupation
- 6,100
Based on 30 openings.
Full ranking
All 15 occupations that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | Occupation | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and information research scientists Master's degree | 2,549 jobs | 2,549 |
| 2 | Education administrators, postsecondary Master's degree | 651 jobs | 651 |
| 3 | Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary Master's degree | 389 jobs | 389 |
| 4 | Statisticians Master's degree | 298 jobs | 298 |
| 5 | Instructional coordinators Master's degree | 239 jobs | 239 |
| 6 | Economists Master's degree | 93 jobs | 93 |
| 7 | Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors Master's degree | 92 jobs | 92 |
| 8 | Urban and regional planners Master's degree | 88 jobs | 88 |
| 9 | Mathematicians Master's degree | 53 jobs | 53 |
| 10 | Healthcare social workers Master's degree | 45 jobs | 45 |
| 11 | Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other Master's degree | 40 jobs | 40 |
| 12 | Survey researchers Master's degree | 37 jobs | 37 |
| 13 | Physician assistants Master's degree | 34 jobs | 34 |
| 14 | Occupational therapists Master's degree | 32 jobs | 32 |
| 15 | Political scientists Master's degree | 30 jobs | 30 |
How this ranking works
An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, a master's degree. An occupation's score is the number of its open professional roles.
A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only occupations with at least 30 open jobs are ranked.
Sample bar: occupations with fewer than 30 openings are not ranked.
Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which occupation ranks first: occupations needing a master's degree with the most open jobs?
- Computer and information research scientists has the most open jobs of the occupations that typically need a master's degree: 2,549 jobs in our data.
- How many occupations are ranked?
- 15 occupations have at least 30 open jobs, so the list has 15 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- An occupation is a standard occupation (SOC) code, and the group is the typical entry-level education the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists for it: here, a master's degree. An occupation's score is the number of its open professional roles. A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only occupations with at least 30 open jobs are ranked.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Occupations needing a master's degree with the most open jobs,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-a-masters-degree-with-the-most-open-jobs
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/occupations-needing-a-masters-degree-with-the-most-open-jobs">Occupations needing a master's degree with the most open jobs (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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