U.S. citizens with a professional degree had the highest median household income in 2023, at 172,100 U.S. dollars. In comparison, those with less than a 9th grade education made significantly less money, at 35,690 U.S. dollars. Household income The median household income in the United States has fluctuated since 1990, but rose to around 70,000 U.S. dollars in 2021. Maryland had the highest median household income in the United States in 2021. Maryland’s high levels of wealth is due to several reasons, and includes the state's proximity to the nation's capital. Household income and ethnicity The median income of white non-Hispanic households in the United States had been on the rise since 1990, but declining since 2019. While income has also been on the rise, the median income of Hispanic households was much lower than those of white, non-Hispanic private households. However, the median income of Black households is even lower than Hispanic households. Income inequality is a problem without an easy solution in the United States, especially since ethnicity is a contributing factor. Systemic racism contributes to the non-White population suffering from income inequality, which causes the opportunity for growth to stagnate.

In 2023 the mean earnings of Bachelor's degree holders in the United States amounted to 86,970 U.S. dollars. People with higher education degrees tended to earn more than those without. For example, high school graduates, including those with a GED, had mean earnings of 46,720 U.S. dollars.

The age groups available in the dataset are: 15+, 25+, 25-34, 25-54 and 25-64.

Type of work includes full-time and part-time.

The educational levels include: 0-8 yrs., some high school, high school graduate, some post-secondary, post-secondary certificate diploma and university degree.

Wages include average weekly wage rate.

The immigration statuses include: total landed immigrants (very recent immigrants, recent immigrants, established immigrants), non-landed immigrants and born in Canada.

In the United States, women holding a bachelor's degree earned, on average, 1,352 U.S. dollars per week in the second quarter of 2024. This can be compared with male bachelor's degree holders who on average earn 1,757 U.S dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Wage and Salary Workers Paid Hourly Rates: 16 Years and Over: College Graduates: Bachelor's Degree and Higher (BDAHC5) from 2002 to 2024 about paid, tertiary schooling, salaries, workers, hours, 16 years +, education, wages, rate, and USA.

Average earnings, by age group and highest level of education, from the 2016 Census of Population.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Median usual weekly nominal earnings (second quartile): Wage and salary workers: Bachelor's degree and higher: 25 years and over: Black or African American: Men (LEU0252939900A) from 2000 to 2024 about second quartile, full-time, males, 25 years +, tertiary schooling, African-American, salaries, workers, earnings, education, wages, median, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Income Before Taxes: Wages and Salaries by Highest Education: College Graduate: Bachelor's Degree (CXU900000LB1408M) from 2012 to 2023 about tertiary schooling, salaries, tax, education, wages, income, and USA.

In 2023, the mean income of women with a doctorate degree in the United States stood at 139,100 U.S. dollars. For men with the same degree, mean earnings stood at 175,500 U.S. dollars. On average in 2023, American men earned 91,590 U.S. dollars, while American women earned 65,987 U.S. dollars.

In Sweden, people with a tertiary education have the highest average monthly salaries. In 2022, it amounted to 35,700 Swedish kronor, whereas people with a secondary or primary education earned 34,200 and 31,300, respectively. In 2022, almost 24 percent of the population in Sweden had a tertiary education.

The highest average salaries in financial institutions and insurance companies

The industry with the highest average monthly salary in Sweden in 2022 was financial institutions and insurance companies, where it amounted to over 57,000 Swedish kronor. Even within industries the salaries vary , and the occupational group with the highest average salary in Sweden in is banking, finance and insurance managers.

Women have lower salaries than men

Not only does the salary in Sweden differ between occupations, sectors, industries, and the level of education and age of the employee. Furthermore, men have a higher average salary than women. In 2022, women’s average earnings were 95 percent of men's.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in General Education - High School Level from 2020 to 2023 through this detailed chart. It compares these figures against the national average for all graduates, offering a comprehensive look at the earning potential of General Education - High School Level relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in General Education - High School Level, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

University graduates had the highest average salary in Russia, at approximately 75.2 thousand Russian rubles per month in 2021. People who did not complete basic general education earned slightly more than those that finished 11 years of school.

Employment income (in 2019 and 2020) by highest certificate, diploma or degree, for census divisions and municipalities.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Median usual weekly nominal earnings (second quartile): Wage and salary workers: High School graduates, no college: 25 years and over (LEU0252917300A) from 1979 to 2024 about no college, second quartile, secondary schooling, secondary, full-time, 25 years +, salaries, workers, earnings, education, wages, median, employment, and USA.

This Alberta Official Statistic describes the median earnings of full-time Alberta workers (25-64 years) by highest level of education and sex for the year 2010. The levels of education presented are: “Less Than High School Diploma or Equivalent”, “High School Diploma or Equivalent”, “Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma”, “College (including CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma)”,” University Certificate or Diploma Below Bachelor Level”, “Bachelor’s Degree”, “University Certificate or Diploma Above Bachelor”, “Degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine or Optometry”, “Master’s Degree” and “Earned Doctorate”.

Data on teachers' salaries in Canadian dollars are presented.

See notice below about this dataset

This dataset provides the average earnings by student group per district.  Wage records are obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) using a secure, anonymized matching process with limitations. For details on the process and suppression rules, please visit the Employment and Earnings of High School Graduates dashboard.

This dataset is one of three containing the same data that is also published in the Employment and Earnings of High School Graduates dashboard: Average Earnings by Student Group Average Earnings by Industry College and Career Outcomes

2025 Update on DESE Data on Employment and Earnings 

The data link between high school graduates and future earnings makes it possible to follow students beyond high school and college into the workforce, enabling long-term evaluation of educational programs using workforce outcomes.

While DESE has published these data in the past, as of June 2025 we are temporarily pausing updates due to an issue conducting the link that was brought to our attention in 2023 by a team of researchers. The issue impacts the earnings information for students who never attended a postsecondary institution or who only attended private or out-of-state colleges or universities, beginning with the 2017 high school graduation cohort, with growing impact in each successive high school graduation cohort.

The issue does not impact the earnings information for students who attended a Massachusetts public institution of higher education, and earnings data for those students will continue to be updated.

Once a solution is found, the past cohorts of data with low match rates will be updated. DESE and partner agencies are exploring linking strategies to maximize the utility of the information.

More detailed information can be found in the attached memo provided by the research team from the Annenberg Institute. We thank them for calling this issue to our attention.

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Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Second Level Secondary Education from 2020 to 2023 through this detailed chart. It compares these figures against the national average for all graduates, offering a comprehensive look at the earning potential of Second Level Secondary Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Second Level Secondary Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Secondary Level from 2020 to 2023 through this detailed chart. It compares these figures against the national average for all graduates, offering a comprehensive look at the earning potential of Secondary Level relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Secondary Level, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.