Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis Print This Page Print This Page  Decrease Text Size Increase Text Size Text Size  Email This Page E-mail This Page

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Wages

Educational Level & Pay

Generally speaking, jobs that require high levels of education and skill pay higher wages than jobs that require few skills and little education. Statistics from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) validate this viewpoint by revealing that the unemployment rate among people who have a professional degree is significantly lower than that of people who have a high school diploma or less than a complete high school education. In addition, earnings increase significantly as a worker's degree of education rises.

DOL Web Pages on This Topic

Earnings by Educational Attainment and Sex
BLS data indicating that the earnings are higher and the unemployment rate is lower for people who have high levels of education. The reverse is true for the least educated American workers.

BLS Career Guide to Industries
An analysis of the educational services industry as a growing source of jobs. Also states that most managerial and professional specialty positions in the educational field, which account for more than 6 out of every 10 jobs, require at least a bachelor's degree, and some require a master's or doctoral degree.

America's Career InfoNet
Information about educational levels for various occupations, as well as average wage ranges by occupation and geographical area.

Related Web Pages on This Topic

Equal Pay and Compensation Discrimination
Equal pay provisions prohibit sex-based wage differentials between men and women employed in the same establishment who perform jobs requiring equal effort, skill, and responsibility. These provisions are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).