Question:
What is the average income for high school and college graduates?
Response:
Measured in constant 2006 dollars, median earnings
for young adults ages 25–34 who worked full
time throughout a full year increased as education
level increased for each year shown between
1995 and 2006. This pattern held for male, female,
White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian subgroups.
The earnings difference between those with at least a bachelor's degree and those with less education increased between the longer period of 1980 and 2006. However, between 2000 and 2006, there was generally no measurable change in the earnings difference between these groups. For example, in 1980, young adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher earned $14,600 more than those who did not earn a high school diploma or its equivalent. In 2000, this difference increased to $23,400 and was $23,000 in 2006.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2008). The Condition of Education 2008 (NCES 2008–031), Indicator 20.
Median annual earnings of all full-time, full-year wage and salary workers ages 25–34, by sex and educational attainment: Selected years, 1980–2006
[In constant 2006 dollars] |
||||
Year | All education levels | High school diploma or GED | Bachelor's degree or higher | |
Male | ||||
1980 | $43,700 | $41,400 | $48,900 | |
1985 | 41,200 | 37,500 | 51,400 | |
1990 | 38,600 | 33,900 | 49,000 | |
1995 | 36,400 | 31,800 | 49,300 | |
2000 | 39,800 | 33,900 | 53,900 | |
2005 | 36,100 | 31,000 | 51,600 | |
2006 | 37,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 | |
Female | ||||
1980 | $29,400 | $26,900 | $36,300 | |
1985 | 30,000 | 26,200 | 39,100 | |
1990 | 30,500 | 24,700 | 40,100 | |
1995 | 29,100 | 23,300 | 39,700 | |
2000 | 31,600 | 24,600 | 41,600 | |
2005 | 31,000 | 24,800 | 41,300 | |
2006 | 31,800 | 24,000 | 41,000 |
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2008). The Condition of Education 2008 (NCES 2008–031), Table 20-1.
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