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.

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.

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.

Mean and median income by educational attainment level

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 (LEU0252918500A) from 1979 to 2024 about second quartile, full-time, 25 years +, tertiary schooling, salaries, workers, earnings, education, wages, median, employment, and USA.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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: Wage and salary workers: Some college or associate degree: 25 years and over: Men (LEU0254929700A) from 2000 to 2024 about no college, associate degree, full-time, males, 25 years +, salaries, workers, education, wages, employment, and USA.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education, Economics And Foreign Language 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 Education, Economics And Foreign Language Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education, Economics And Foreign Language Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education (Religious 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 Education (Religious Education) relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education (Religious Education), providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education. Educational Leadership Curriculum And Instruction 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 Education. Educational Leadership Curriculum And Instruction relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education. Educational Leadership Curriculum And Instruction, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

See notice below about this dataset

This dataset provides the average annual earnings by industry 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

List of Industries

• 00 - All Students
• 11 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
• 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
• 22 - Utilities
• 23 - Construction
• 31 - Manufacturing
• 42 - Wholesale Trade
• 44 - Retail Trade
• 48 - Transportation and Warehousing
• 51 - Information
• 52 - Finance and Insurance
• 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
• 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises
• 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
• 61 - Educational Services
• 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance
• 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
• 72 - Accommodation and Food Services
• 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration)
• 92 - Public Administration
• 0 - No Industry Reported

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.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Arts Degree In Physical 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 Arts Degree In Physical Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Arts Degree In Physical Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education Mathematics 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 Education Mathematics Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education Mathematics Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education With Concentration In Math 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 Education With Concentration In Math Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education With Concentration In Math Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.

Explore the progression of average salaries for graduates in Education With Minor In Math 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 Education With Minor In Math Education relative to other fields. This data is essential for students assessing the return on investment of their education in Education With Minor In Math Education, providing a clear picture of financial prospects post-graduation.