What is the Average Salary for Graduates with Associates, Bachelors, & Masters Degrees?

The time commitment as well as the high cost of getting any kind of degree may force many to wonder if the effort leads to any measurable rewards in the job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the median 2008 salaries for graduates with various degrees.

Associate Degrees

An associate degree from a two-year college led to a median yearly salary of $38,282.

Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree from a four-year college garners a salary of $50, 852.

Master's Degrees

A master's degree, which typically involves at least two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree, leads to earnings of $63,856.

No Degrees

Those without a high school diploma make an average of $22,152 a year, while high school graduates earn $30,732. Those with some college but no degree can expect earnings of $33,540.

Advanced Degrees

A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) gains the most salary with a yearly median of $80,860.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics