Attending college usually leads to higher earnings, but this isn’t true for every degree.
guarantee high salaries
— particularly if you are studying liberal arts.
According to a recent study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, individuals who graduate with degrees in fields such as education, social work, or fine arts typically have some of the lowest median earnings among all majors just five years after completing their studies. This analysis focuses solely on employees working full-time with a bachelor’s degree and does not include people continuing their education.
The salary numbers are derived from 2023 information, which is currently the latest available source. They indicate that entry-level earnings in these sectors are lower than the U.S. median income of $48,060 for the same year.
as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics
.
Even though engineering graduates may start with salaries above $80,000, numerous liberal arts and education majors typically earn around $40,000 annually. The middle value for all surveyed degrees was found to be $50,000.
Below is a glance at the 10 fields of study associated with the smallest median earnings for full-time employees between the ages of 22 and 27.
Although acquiring proficiency in a foreign language is indeed beneficial, possessing a degree in this field does not necessarily result in lucrative career opportunities. This might be due to the fact that languages can often be mastered independently of structured educational programs, and numerous graduates usually end up pursuing different career paths.
relatively low-paying fields
, such as education, translation, or public service.
Students who major in liberal arts often have lower earnings compared to those graduating from technical disciplines such as engineering or mathematics. This disparity primarily stems from the lesser demand for their skill sets within lucrative sectors like tech and finance.
Sadly, numerous graduates with degrees in liberal arts often find themselves struggling financially as they age, particularly those who studied education. Below is a glance at the 10 least lucrative majors for individuals aged 35 to 45 working full time.
Mid-career graduates who majored in early childhood education have the lowest median earnings, at $49,000 per year—which is only about $8,000 higher than their earnings were five years post-graduation.
On the other hand, individuals with engineering degrees often reach salaries over $100,000 by the middle of their careers.
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