History
History
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $50,073 | $45,588 to $55,426 | 488 | 94% |
| Master's Degree | $55,446 | $48,792 to $64,144 | 40 | 98% |
| Doctoral Degree | $72,601 | $69,951 to $82,537 | 8 | 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 188,200 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $65,220 | -1.6% | 66,200 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $157,740 | +3.7% | 8,500 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $48,670 | +5.4% | 1,900 |
| Curators | $61,750 | +7% | 1,800 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $82,140 | -0.2% | 1,700 |
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.