College graduates earn about $600,000 more over their lifetimes than workers with only a high school education, reports the Hamilton Project. But there’s a huge earnings difference between graduates with different majors: Engineering pays more than social work.
A new Hamilton study looks at how career paths after college explain earnings variations for people in the same major.
An interactive tool shows career choices and earnings for various majors. What are 25- to 34-year-old female anthropology/archaeology graduates up to (teaching or working as a secretary/admin) and earning (not much)? Young males are more likely to work as a lawyer or manager, earning significantly more.
The median anthropology graduate earns about $20,000 less than the median Computer Information Systems graduate—$48,000 versus $69,000 — researchers write. “There are a number of anthropology graduates working in relatively low-paying occupations in which CIS graduates do not, including social work, writing, and retail sales.“
Young people should play with the tool before they choose a major.
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