Depending on your salary, your bachelor's degree can take many years to pay off.
A basic salary for bachelor's degree holders is hard to pin down, as salaries vary widely depending on the discipline of the degree, job title and years of experience. However, the average salary for a bachelor's degree holder is between $30,000 and $100,000, according to PayScale. Additional factors, such as geographical location of employment and industry, also affect the basic salary for bachelor's degree holders.
By Job
The salary for a bachelor's degree holder in the United States varies depending on the job title of the individual. Elementary school teachers with a bachelor's degree earn a median annual salary of $43,046 as of 2011 while high school teachers earn a median salary of $46,416, according to PayScale. A project manager with a bachelor's degree earns $83,000; mechanical engineers with a bachelor's earn $59,869; general/operation managers earn $78,000; and physician assistants with a bachelor's earn a median salary of $86,709.
By Experience
The basic salary for bachelor's degree holders in the United States also varies by work experience. Someone who has been employed for several years likely earns more than an entry-level employee, even though both might have the same bachelor's degree education. New bachelor's degree graduates just starting out with less than one year of experience earn a median salary of $39,114, and those with one to four years of experience earn $44,714 on average in 2011, according to PayScale. On the other hand, bachelor's degree holders in the United States who have 20 or more years of experience earn a median salary of $77,918.
By Geographical Location
Salaries also vary according to the geographical location of employment. For example, individuals with a bachelor's degree in New York City earn a median salary of $67,695 in 2011, according to PayScale. Those employed in Chicago earn $77,576 on average. Bachelor's degree holders employed in Boston earn some of the highest salaries reported by PayScale in this category, with a median salary of $81,575. Those employed in Dallas can expect some of the lowest salaries, with a median salary of $65,694.
By Industry
The industry also affects the salaries of bachelor's degree holders. Those employed in education (K-12 schools) are reported to earn a median salary of $48,129, according to PayScale as of 2011, while those employed in the healthcare industry earn nearly $20,000 more each year with a median salary of $65,003. Those employed in the manufacturing and distribution industry can expect some of the highest salaries for bachelor's degree holders on average with a median salary of $70,678, while those employed in the college or university education industry can expect some of the lowest salaries with a median salary of $36,945.
Tags: median salary, bachelor degree, degree holders, earn median, earn median salary, according PayScale
