Social Sciences
Social Sciences · federal classification: Social Sciences, General
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $44,266 | $41,268 to $47,704 | 38 | 92% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,290 | $44,840 to $58,362 | 91 | 98% |
| Master's Degree | $57,722 | $54,124 to $71,228 | 11 | 91% |
"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 +2% (2025 to 2035), about 303,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | +4.9% | 100,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | -0.4% | 87,500 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | -0.2% | 63,500 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | -0.4% | 38,800 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $61,990 | +5% | 4,900 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | -0.2% | 2,700 |
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 social sciences program, of 376 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- East Los Angeles College
- University of Chicago
- Sierra College
- College of the Canyons
- Yuba College
- Ohlone College
- Woodland Community College
- American River College
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.