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| 2022 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 505.50. | Percentage, selected employment characteristics, and annual salaries of bachelor's degree recipients employed full time 1 year after graduation, by field of study: 1991, 2001, 2009, and 2017 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected employment characteristic and annual salary |
All fields of study1 | Engineering | Biological and physical sciences2 |
Mathematics and computer science2 |
Social sciences and history |
Humanities | Health professions | Business and management | Education3 | Psychology | Public affairs and social services |
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |||||||||||
| Employment characteristics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Percent of recipients employed full time |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | 73.8 | (0.36) | 85.2 | (0.95) | 50.6 | (1.72) | 71.2 | (1.30) | 66.2 | (0.94) | 59.2 | (1.32) | 80.9 | (1.35) | 83.2 | (0.57) | 77.0 | (0.74) | 59.8 | (1.64) | 77.0 | (2.06) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 76.5 | (0.52) | 86.0 | (1.77) | 58.6 | (2.04) | 83.7 | (2.06) | 68.3 | (1.88) | 67.5 | (1.65) | 74.8 | (1.50) | 85.5 | (1.27) | 84.0 | (1.29) | 64.0 | (2.64) | 85.1 | (2.25) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 65.0 | (0.62) | 76.1 | (2.12) | 49.0 | (2.38) | 75.1 | (2.67) | 58.0 | (1.81) | 50.4 | (1.82) | 68.5 | (1.86) | 77.2 | (1.20) | 70.6 | (1.75) | 46.6 | (2.40) | 69.8 | (3.44) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 56.7 | (0.50) | 68.4 | (1.84) | 45.1 | (1.95) | 66.5 | (1.99) | 51.7 | (1.81) | 44.1 | (1.99) | 64.3 | (1.36) | 66.1 | (1.24) | 61.4 | (1.97) | 45.9 | (2.00) | 48.1 | (3.28) |
Percent of full-time employees looking for a different job4 |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | 21.5 | (0.35) | 12.9 | (1.05) | 21.0 | (1.95) | 16.6 | (1.08) | 24.5 | (1.20) | 25.8 | (1.44) | 9.2 | (1.10) | 20.7 | (0.78) | 25.5 | (0.92) | 21.8 | (1.57) | 26.8 | (2.36) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 24.6 | (0.66) | 19.2 | (2.30) | 22.9 | (2.64) | 18.3 | (2.36) | 27.1 | (2.06) | 28.3 | (2.13) | 20.9 | (1.93) | 24.4 | (1.51) | 17.4 | (1.45) | 23.9 | (2.54) | 25.8 | (2.80) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 31.2 | (0.74) | 20.2 | (2.53) | 28.5 | (3.47) | 27.7 | (3.37) | 35.3 | (2.47) | 39.2 | (2.56) | 21.8 | (2.40) | 32.0 | (1.61) | 23.6 | (1.78) | 37.3 | (2.99) | 30.4 | (4.86) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 20.6 | (0.55) | 15.0 | (1.78) | 19.5 | (1.87) | 16.5 | (1.74) | 24.5 | (2.06) | 26.8 | (2.29) | 15.4 | (1.27) | 18.8 | (1.20) | 17.6 | (1.76) | 24.5 | (2.50) | 28.1 | (4.57) |
Percent of full-time employees in job closely related to field of study |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | 52.5 | (0.55) | 57.5 | (1.24) | 49.4 | (2.31) | 66.4 | (1.34) | 20.2 | (1.12) | 32.2 | (2.07) | 88.2 | (2.10) | 49.8 | (0.79) | 79.2 | (0.89) | 40.3 | (2.13) | 57.6 | (2.56) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 56.1 | (0.65) | 70.0 | (3.35) | 48.6 | (3.00) | 72.7 | (2.58) | 28.7 | (2.03) | 41.5 | (2.16) | 77.5 | (2.45) | 58.7 | (1.67) | 84.3 | (1.68) | 40.1 | (3.65) | 61.2 | (3.11) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 49.7 | (0.78) | 61.3 | (2.86) | 49.0 | (3.36) | 61.9 | (3.57) | 21.6 | (2.07) | 27.6 | (2.56) | 81.7 | (2.10) | 49.3 | (1.76) | 82.0 | (1.68) | 26.6 | (3.04) | 57.2 | (4.93) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 44.0 | (0.68) | 47.0 | (2.73) | 33.5 | (2.36) | 50.8 | (2.39) | 30.8 | (2.22) | 31.1 | (2.56) | 61.0 | (1.77) | 41.2 | (1.84) | 68.5 | (2.03) | 35.3 | (3.01) | 46.9 | (4.52) |
Annual salaries of full-time employees5 |
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Average salary, in current dollars |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | $23,600 | (180) | $30,900 | (390) | $21,100 | (410) | $27,200 | (400) | $22,100 | (330) | $19,100 | (350) | $31,500 | (860) | $24,700 | (330) | $19,100 | (140) | $19,200 | (310) | $20,900 | (470) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 35,400 | (300) | 47,900 | (840) | 31,000 | (710) | 47,400 | (1,080) | 33,000 | (700) | 30,100 | (690) | 39,400 | (1,110) | 41,000 | (860) | 27,600 | (370) | 28,800 | (990) | 30,400 | (1,030) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 40,100 | (340) | 53,900 | (1,080) | 34,600 | (1,220) | 48,800 | (1,570) | 36,600 | (980) | 31,100 | (780) | 49,100 | (1,290) | 44,200 | (890) | 33,000 | (490) | 30,600 | (910) | 35,000 | (1,700) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 42,939 | (295) | 58,993 | (917) | 35,352 | (890) | 58,258 | (1,981) | 38,086 | (940) | 33,826 | (998) | 51,614 | (717) | 43,562 | (696) | 35,365 | (614) | 33,612 | (999) | 36,038 | (1,877) |
Average salary, in constant 2021 dollars |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | $48,200 | (370) | $63,100 | (800) | $43,000 | (840) | $55,400 | (810) | $45,100 | (680) | $38,900 | (720) | $64,200 | (1,750) | $50,500 | (670) | $39,000 | (280) | $39,100 | (640) | $42,600 | (950) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 56,000 | (470) | 75,900 | (1,330) | 49,000 | (1,130) | 75,100 | (1,710) | 52,200 | (1,110) | 47,600 | (1,100) | 62,400 | (1,760) | 64,900 | (1,360) | 43,700 | (580) | 45,600 | (1,570) | 48,100 | (1,630) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 52,200 | (440) | 70,200 | (1,410) | 45,100 | (1,580) | 63,500 | (2,050) | 47,600 | (1,280) | 40,500 | (1,010) | 63,900 | (1,680) | 57,500 | (1,160) | 42,900 | (640) | 39,800 | (1,190) | 45,600 | (2,210) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 48,800 | (300) | 67,100 | (1,000) | 40,200 | (1,000) | 66,200 | (2,300) | 43,300 | (1,100) | 38,400 | (1,100) | 58,700 | (800) | 49,500 | (800) | 40,200 | (700) | 38,200 | (1,100) | 41,000 | (2,100) |
Percent change in average salary, in constant 2021 dollars |
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| 1991 to 2017 | 1.2 | (---) | 6.2 | (---) | -6.5 | (---) | 19.5 | (---) | -4.0 | (---) | -1.2 | (---) | -8.6 | (---) | -2.0 | (---) | 3.1 | (---) | -2.3 | (---) | -3.8 | (---) |
| 1991 to 2009 | 8.1 | (---) | 11.1 | (---) | 4.9 | (---) | 14.7 | (---) | 5.6 | (---) | 3.9 | (---) | -0.4 | (---) | 13.8 | (---) | 10.0 | (---) | 1.9 | (---) | 7.1 | (---) |
| 1991 to 2001 | 16.2 | (---) | 20.2 | (---) | 14.1 | (---) | 35.4 | (---) | 15.7 | (---) | 22.4 | (---) | -2.7 | (---) | 28.5 | (---) | 12.1 | (---) | 16.8 | (---) | 13.0 | (---) |
| 2001 to 2009 | -6.9 | (---) | -7.5 | (---) | -8.1 | (---) | -15.3 | (---) | -8.8 | (---) | -15.1 | (---) | 2.4 | (---) | -11.5 | (---) | -1.8 | (---) | -12.7 | (---) | -5.3 | (---) |
| 2001 to 2017 | -12.9 | (---) | -11.6 | (---) | -18.0 | (---) | -11.8 | (---) | -17.0 | (---) | -19.3 | (---) | -6.0 | (---) | -23.7 | (---) | -8.0 | (---) | 83.6 | (---) | -14.9 | (---) |
| 2009 to 2017 | -6.4 | (---) | -4.4 | (---) | -10.8 | (---) | 4.2 | (---) | -9.1 | (---) | -5.0 | (---) | -8.3 | (---) | -5.1 | (---) | -30.0 | (---) | -10.9 | (---) | 2.8 | (---) |
Median salary, in current dollars |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | $21,800 | (210) | $31,900 | (470) | $20,000 | (430) | $27,000 | (510) | $20,300 | (250) | $18,500 | (360) | $30,400 | (760) | $23,000 | (300) | $19,500 | (220) | $18,100 | (320) | $18,600 | (410) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 32,000 | (90) | 47,800 | (880) | 29,800 | (470) | 46,100 | (1,990) | 29,900 | (360) | 28,600 | (700) | 35,500 | (770) | 36,800 | (700) | 27,900 | (410) | 27,700 | (1,180) | 27,900 | (710) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 36,000 | (220) | 54,000 | (900) | 32,500 | (1,570) | 45,000 | (1,830) | 34,600 | (920) | 29,000 | (1,060) | 45,900 | (920) | 40,000 | (300) | 33,800 | (570) | 29,300 | (1,040) | 32,000 | (1,430) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 40,000 | (150) | 60,000 | (1,050) | 33,000 | (880) | 55,000 | (2,320) | 35,600 | (1,080) | 32,200 | (1,150) | 50,500 | (660) | 40,500 | (790) | 35,000 | (370) | 31,200 | (820) | 33,000 | (1,260) |
Median salary, in constant 2021 dollars |
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| 1989-90 recipients in June 1991 | $44,500 | (420) | $65,000 | (960) | $40,700 | (870) | $55,000 | (1,050) | $41,300 | (510) | $37,700 | (730) | $62,000 | (1,550) | $46,900 | (610) | $39,800 | (450) | $37,000 | (660) | $38,000 | (840) |
| 1999-2000 recipients in July 2001 | 50,600 | (140) | 75,600 | (1,400) | 47,200 | (750) | 72,900 | (3,140) | 47,300 | (560) | 45,200 | (1,110) | 56,200 | (1,220) | 58,200 | (1,110) | 44,200 | (660) | 43,900 | (1,860) | 44,200 | (1,130) |
| 2007-08 recipients in June 2009 | 46,800 | (290) | 70,300 | (1,170) | 42,200 | (2,050) | 58,500 | (2,390) | 45,000 | (1,190) | 37,700 | (1,380) | 59,800 | (1,200) | 52,000 | (390) | 44,000 | (740) | 38,200 | (1,360) | 41,600 | (1,860) |
| 2015-16 recipients in 2017 | 45,500 | (200) | 68,200 | (1,200) | 37,500 | (1,000) | 62,500 | (2,600) | 40,500 | (1,200) | 36,600 | (1,300) | 57,400 | (700) | 46,100 | (900) | 39,800 | (400) | 35,400 | (900) | 37,500 | (1,400) |
Percent change in median salary, in constant 2021 dollars |
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| 1991 to 2017 | 2.3 | (---) | 4.9 | (---) | -7.9 | (---) | 13.7 | (---) | -2.0 | (---) | -2.8 | (---) | -7.5 | (---) | -1.8 | (---) | -0.1 | (---) | -4.1 | (---) | -1.2 | (---) |
| 1991 to 2009 | 5.4 | (---) | 8.0 | (---) | 3.7 | (---) | 6.4 | (---) | 9.0 | (---) | 0.1 | (---) | -3.6 | (---) | 11.0 | (---) | 10.5 | (---) | 3.3 | (---) | 9.7 | (---) |
| 1991 to 2001 | 13.8 | (---) | 16.3 | (---) | 15.8 | (---) | 32.6 | (---) | 14.5 | (---) | 20.1 | (---) | -9.5 | (---) | 24.2 | (---) | 11.0 | (---) | 18.9 | (---) | 16.4 | (---) |
| 2001 to 2009 | -7.4 | (---) | -7.1 | (---) | -10.5 | (---) | -19.7 | (---) | -4.8 | (---) | -16.6 | (---) | 6.4 | (---) | -10.6 | (---) | -0.4 | (---) | -13.1 | (---) | -5.8 | (---) |
| 2001 to 2017 | -10.1 | (---) | -9.8 | (---) | -20.5 | (---) | -14.3 | (---) | -14.4 | (---) | -19.1 | (---) | 2.2 | (---) | -20.9 | (---) | -10.0 | (---) | -19.3 | (---) | -15.1 | (---) |
| 2009 to 2017 | -3.0 | (---) | -2.9 | (---) | -11.2 | (---) | 6.8 | (---) | -10.1 | (---) | -3.0 | (---) | -4.0 | (---) | -11.5 | (---) | -9.6 | (---) | -7.2 | (---) | -9.9 | (---) |
| ---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1Includes graduates in other fields not separately shown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2For 1991, physical sciences are not included with biological and physical sciences; instead, they are included with mathematics and computer science. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3Most educators work 9- to 10-month contracts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4In 1991, respondents were asked whether they were "looking for a different principal job." In 2001 and 2009, they were asked whether they were "looking for a different job" (instead of "a different principal job"). In 2017, respondents were asked to indicate the months in which they "actively looked for employment, including looking for a different or additional job." Full-time employees who indicated they looked for employment in month 12 are considered as looking for a different job. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5In all years, reported salaries of full-time workers under $1,000 were excluded from the tabulations. In addition, salaries reported as above $500,000 were set to $500,000 in 2001, and salaries reported as above $250,000 were set to $250,000 in 2009. In all years, only a tiny fraction of reported full-time salaries were either below $1,000 or above $250,000. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data exclude bachelor's degree recipients from U.S. Service Academies, deceased graduates, and graduates living at foreign addresses at the time of the survey. Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Recent College Graduates" survey, 1991; and 2000/01, 2008/09, and 2016/17 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:2000/01, B&B:08/09, and B&B:16/17). (This table was prepared August 2022.) |
