Economics
Social Sciences
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $76,994 | $67,465 to $90,787 | 398 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $98,682 | $74,146 to $110,632 | 28 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +4% (2023 to 2033), about 293,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $133,560 | +4.5% | 106,700 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $74,680 | +6.7% | 87,200 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $65,220 | -1.6% | 66,200 |
| Data Scientists | $108,020 | +33.5% | 23,400 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $56,400 | +4.4% | 5,200 |
| Statisticians | $104,110 | +8.5% | 2,000 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, so this lists where the major commonly leads, not any one graduate's job.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.