Advancing your education is one of the best ways to earn a higher salary, no matter what your field or where you live. However, some question whether getting a master’s degree is really worth the time and money, even with the help of financial aid. One option to save both is to go to school online, as these programs are typically less expensive and more flexible in terms of scheduling.

No matter where you get your master’s degree, once you complete a program, you’ll likely see a substantial rise in income. You exact average salary depends on your program of study and subsequent career path, but on average across all fields, those with master’s level education earned $53,000 per year. Compared to other fields, that’s a huge jump in salary.

• $33,000 more than high school drop-outs
• $27,000 more than those with high school diplomas of GEDs
• $22,000 more than those with some college experience
• $20,000 more than those holding associate’s degrees
• $10,000 more than those holding bachelor’s degrees

At one time, these numbers would be lower based on the fact that you got your degree online rather than getting it from a traditional campus college. Today, that’s typically not the case. According to reports online education is growing by more than 33% every year, and over 3 million students are currently participating in online classes. Employers are willing to hire the best person for the job, regardless of whether or not they went to a traditional school, as long as the program is accredited and respected. So, you can expect just as high of a salary with an online master’s degree as a master’s degree from a brick and mortar college.

Again, your exact salary with an online master’s degree depends on your filed, but some of the following careers are the most popular for those with advanced degrees. Average salaries for employees who have master’s degrees are as follows, according to Payscale.com:

• Senior Software Engineer, Developer, or Programmer: $94,072
• Physician Assistant: $72,250
• Executive Director: $70,610
• Physical Therapist: $62,437
• Architect: $59,258
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker: $50,506
• High School Teacher: $49,547
• Elementary School Teacher: $44,013

Of course, your salary will change depending on where you live. If you have a master’s degree, the highest average salaries can be found in the following states (data excludes those holding MBA degrees):

• California: $76,708
• Massachusetts: $65,431
• Texas: $62,534
• New York: $62,381
• Illinois: $59,928
• Florida: $59,507
• Pennsylvania: $58,223

Remember, you’ll earn more if you live in a city, in general, than if you live in a more rural area, but in these locations, cost of living can be higher as well. No matter where you live, though, it makes sense to go back to school to get your master’s degree. With online programs, there are educational options no matter what your budget or schedule.