Education
Education · federal classification: Education, General
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $42,748 | $39,948 to $45,654 | 30 | 90% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,991 | $44,591 to $54,594 | 78 | 95% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $69,055 | $61,131 to $74,809 | 9 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $62,560 | $56,751 to $70,839 | 218 | 100% |
| Doctoral Degree | $92,669 | $81,895 to $104,701 | 42 | 100% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $62,656 | $55,128 to $68,268 | 12 | 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 +3% (2025 to 2035), about 5,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $75,350 | +2.5% | 5,300 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a education program, of 708 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Walden University
- Teachers College of San Joaquin
- Johns Hopkins University
- National University
- Northcentral University
- University of North Texas
- Texas A&M University-College Station
- Eastern Washington University
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.