Mold Remediation in Panama City, FL

Earning top dollar often requires more education than an undergraduate degree. Of course, doctors, lawyers, and professors all need extra years of focused study in their respective fields, but they're not alone. Graduate degrees in industries like business, engineering, and mathematics build specialized knowledge that can fast-track one's career—and salary.

In 2024, master's degree holders earned a weekly median of $1,840, a 19% premium over undergraduate degree holders. Meanwhile, doctorates earned $2,278, and professional degree holders earned $2,363.

However, wages can vary widely by occupation. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Panama City that require a graduate degree in Panama City. This includes doctorates, master's degrees, and professional degrees. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

Beyond offering higher pay, a master's degree may also provide greater job security. The unemployment rate for a master's degree holder was 2.2% in 2024, compared to 2.5% for undergraduate degree holders. Unemployment is close to 1% among those with doctorates and professional degrees.

According to a May 2025 report from ResumeGenius, many employers believe a graduate degree showcases an employee's drive and commitment, leading to better job prospects. But that comes at a price. Between 2000 and 2020, median annual tuition and fees for graduate degree programs increased by 233%. Unsurprisingly, median cumulative grad school debt also increased, rising 47% to $50,000.

Depending on the career field, the expense may be difficult to justify. Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that full-time workers with graduate degrees in STEM fields earned $128,000 annually, almost twice as much as their counterparts in humanities and the arts. Meanwhile, a humanities graduate degree brought only 10% more earnings than a bachelor's degree.

Keep reading to find out how much graduate degree holders can earn in different roles.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - On Tuesday, VIP PC Cinemas took to social media to announce that the theater will be closing permanently.

“We want to thank our loyal guests for all the years of support as we have (quite literally) weathered storms and adapted to a changing landscape at the Panama City Mall. This is the end of an unforgettable chapter for this theater, but the memories made here will live on forever.

We hope you’ll join us between now and the 15th for our final nights of movies, memories, and gratitude as we say goodbye.”

VIP has been in operation since August 1976. Moviegoers were shocked when they heard about its closing.

“When I heard, I got goosebumps, and I got emotional because again we come here at least like twice a week,” One woman said.

VIP is an intimate movie theater, devoid of the glitz and glamour found in other theaters in the area. An identity that made them stand out amongst viewers.

“We always like to come here,” one couple said. “We like it quieter and relaxed. The other theaters we enjoy going to, and they have a lot to offer. But it’s not as relaxed as coming here and enjoying the movie.”

According to the Facebook post, those who have purchased the annual VIP Bicket will get refills through the final day of operation, which is June 15th. Officials with the theater also said gift cards with an unused balance can be refunded upon request.

VIP PC Cinemas is located at Panama City Mall.

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And it was ranked 7th overall in summer vacation spots across the country.

Travelers will be flocking to beaches all over the South this summer, and the crystal-clear waters off the coast of Florida attract lots of vacationers since there are so many great beach towns from which to choose. This year, Tripadvisor has declared that Panama City Beach is the top destination in Florida for summer travel.

Tripadvisor tracks which travel destinations are trending each year with its Summer Travel Index. Panama City Beach was the first choice for trips to Florida this year and also came in seventh for vacation destinations in the entire country. Panama City Beach was followed by Key West in eighth place and Clearwater in ninth.

Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar-white sand, more than 50 offshore dive sites, and one of the world's largest populations of bottlenose dolphins. We also recommend taking the ferry to nearby Shell Island for unspoiled beaches, shelling, and dolphin-spotting.

Explore Panama City Beach

The city also hosts the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display on the Gulf coast and a summer concert series. And there's another special summer event you can't catch anywhere else in Florida: Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show. (The dinner theater show has two other locations in Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach.) Nearby, Panama City offers additional arts venues, culture, and shopping.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Dolly Parton has "officially" opened her new Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Panama City Beach.

According to a press release, the show features sword fights, cannons and pirates scaling high above two full-sized pirate ships in a “fight” to win Davey Jones’ coveted sunken treasure.

Construction began on the entertainment venue in February 2024. Dolly Parton herself made a special appearance on June 5 in Panama City Beach and expressed her joy about the opening.

"Panama City Beach is such a great vacation spot and great place for families to come and visit," Parton said. "We're excited to give families something to do together and after a fun day on the beach, people can come have a good meal and be entertained."

“I always find so much joy in developing entertainment projects that bring families together to create memories that will last long after their visit, and my new Pirates Voyage dinner show does that and more,” Parton added. “Seeing my new show open here in Panama City Beach is another dream come true for me. I love going into new areas of the country and finding ways to bring truly world-class entertainment experiences to the folks there — and a great dinner feast, too! That would be my perfect way to spend a night out, especially at the beach.”

The new attraction cost an estimated $60 million to complete. The themed entertainment venue features cast members with acting and acrobatic abilities. Some dive into a 15-foot-deep indoor hideaway lagoon.

"Beautiful mermaids gracefully perform high above the water before diving and disappearing back into Buccaneer Bay," the release says. "Guests will feel the heat of the lagoon on fire and shiver as skeletons appear from the deep and from the sky. This cavalier crew of characters combines heroics and high-flying fun that will have guests cheering and experiencing thrills around every corner."

The venue's menu items include warm Voyager Creamy Vegetable Soup and a Buccaneer Biscuit for starters. The feast itself includes 'Half O’ Roasted Chicken' and 'Me Hearties Pulled Pork,' accompanied by a side of 'Cob-O’ Buttery Corn' and 'Matey’s Mashed Potatoes.'

"Once people start experiencing the show, we will sell out of the vegetable soup because it's so incredible," said Ellen Liston, PR manager. "Our biscuits are very flaky and buttery, and you can dip them in our soup, which is the best part. We ask everyone to come in hungry and don't come having eaten something already because we serve a lot of food."

To reserve tickets, or for more information about Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, visit piratesvoyage.com.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Firefighters are at the scene of a condo fire in Panama City Beach.

Officials with PCB Fire Rescue said they were called to the Long Beach Resort Tower 3 for a report of a fire on the 5th floor of a condo building Friday afternoon.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found two people inside the condo. Those individuals were rescued, but officials say no injuries were reported.

According to PCB Fire Rescue, firefighters were able to put out the flames within minutes of arriving. But several units are reportedly damaged.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshal’s office will be conducting the investigation.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.