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Liberal Arts

The tables below present the occupations that are most commonly associated with a degree in Liberal Arts. We have separated the tables depending on whether we examine graduates who stop their education with the bachelors degree in Liberal Arts, and those who get either a masters in Liberal Arts, a Ph.D. in Liberal Arts. While the list above describes the occupations of students with advanced degrees in Liberal Arts some students with a bachelors degree in Liberal Arts will get advanced degrees in other fields. The tables listed below descibe the types of advanced degrees that were chosen by students with a bachelors in Liberal Arts. Since all of the above tables present information on the average salary, it is possible to lose sight of the fact that some majors place students in jobs with a narrow range of salaries near to the mean while others place students in many different income categories. For this reason, we have drawn two frequency distributions (histograms) of Liberal Arts Salaries.









Histogram of Liberal Arts Salaries: Bachelors Degree Only

The diagram below includes all students with a major in Liberal Arts who received no degree beyond the bachelors.

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Histogram of Liberal Arts Salaries: Bachelors and Beyond

The diagram below includes all students with a major in Liberal Arts while an undergraduate. The data includes students who subsequently earned degrees beyond the bachelors.

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Bachelors Degree

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a bachelors degree majoring in Liberal Arts.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $50,719         65       10.94   Top and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (people who manage other managers)
  $33,815         42        7.07   Teachers:  Elementary
  $47,642         40        6.73   Insurance, securities, real estate, and business services
  $43,699         38        6.40   OTHER management related occupations
  $34,733         30        5.05   OTHER OCCUPATIONS (Not Listed)
  $32,253         27        4.55   OTHER administrative (e.g., record clerks, telephone operators)
  $53,841         23        3.87   OTHER marketing and sales occupations
  $34,783         22        3.70   Secretaries, receptionists, typists
  $57,555         22        3.70   Transportation/material moving occupations
  $31,110         20        3.37   Social Workers
  $52,883         16        2.69   Accountants, auditors, and other financial specialists
  $44,343         15        2.53   Artists, Broadcasters, Editors, Entertainers, Public Relations Specialists, Writers
  $44,453         15        2.53   Computer system analysts
  $41,330         14        2.36   Sales Occupations - Commodities Except Retail (e.g., industrial machinery/equipment/supplies, medical and dental equiptment/supplies)
  $25,745         12        2.02   Sales Occupations - Retail (e.g., furnishings, clothing, motor vehicles, cosmetics)
  $36,197         12        2.02   OTHER service occupations, except health
  $33,118         11        1.85   Teachers:  Pre-Kindergarten and kindergarten
  $40,934         11        1.85   Computer programmers (business, scientific, process control)
  $31,137         11        1.85   OTHER health occupations
  $37,343         10        1.68   Protective services (e.g., fire fighters, police, guards)
  $32,878          9        1.52   Health Technologists and Technicians (e.g., dental hygienists, health record technologists/technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical or laboratory technicians, radiologic technologists/technicians)
  $34,193          9        1.52   Construction trades, miners and well drillers
  $27,795          9        1.52   Counselors, Educational and Vocational (Also see 236)
  $34,538          7        1.18   Teachers:  Special education - primary and secondary
  $21,756          7        1.18   Accounting clerks, bookkeepers
  $36,443          7        1.18   Teachers:  Secondary - other subjects
  $50,313          6        1.01   Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists
  $24,246          6        1.01   Mechanics and repairers
  $43,266          6        1.01   OTHER computer, information science Occupations
  $61,636          5         .84   Engineers:  Electrical, electronic, industrial, mechanical
  $39,560          5         .84   Registered nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, therapists, physician assistants
  $47,725          4         .67   Lawyers, Judges
  $55,860          4         .67   Precision/production occupations (e.g., workers, woodworkers, butchers, bakers, printing occupations, tailors, shoemakers, photographic process)
  $72,525          4         .67   Computer engineer - software
  $39,333          3         .51   Engineers:  Sales
  $16,587          3         .51   Food Preparation and Service (e.g., cooks, waitresses, bartenders)
  $37,200          3         .51   Information systems scientists or analysts
  $33,003          3         .51   Drafting occupations, including computer drafting
  $33,437          2         .34   Teachers:  Secondary - computer, math or sciences
  $28,998          2         .34   Librarians, Archivists, Curators Managers, Executives, Administrators (Also see 151-153)
  $53,100          2         .34   Engineers:  Civil, including architectural and sanitary
  $28,922          2         .34   Operators and related occupations (e.g., machine set-up, machine operators and tenders, fabricators, assemblers)
  $29,784          2         .34   Professors:  OTHER health specialties
  $44,280          2         .34   OTHER engineering technologists and technicians
  $67,500          2         .34   Diagnosing Treating Practitioners (e.g., dentists, optometrists, physicians, psychiatrists, podiatrists, surgeons, veterinarians)
  $41,200          2         .34   Physicists
  $40,000          2         .34   Farmers, Foresters and Fishermen
  $19,760          1         .17   Surveyors
  $24,384          1         .17   Technologists and technicians in the physical sciences
  $56,414          1         .17   Engineers:  Nuclear
  $25,000          1         .17   Architects Engineers (Also see 101-103)
  $70,000          1         .17   Engineers:  Electrical, electronic
  $40,000          1         .17   Professors:  Engineering
  $29,000          1         .17   Teachers:  Secondary - social sciences
  $50,500          1         .17   Other engineers
  $49,000          1         .17   Professors:  Mathematical Sciences
  $50,000          1         .17   Engineers:  Chemical
  $50,000          1         .17   Engineers:  Aeronautical, aerospace, astronautical
  $50,000          1         .17   Biological scientists (e.g., botanists, ecologists, zoologists)
  $31,000          1         .17   Clergy and Other Religious Workers
  $32,526          1         .17   OTHER postsecondary
  $47,500          1         .17   Computer engineer - hardware
  $46,717          1         .17   Engineers: Industrial
  $45,670          1         .17   Economists
  $36,000          1         .17   Agricultural and food scientists
  $42,996          1         .17   Engineers:  Petroleum
  $38,400          1         .17   OTHER social scientist

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Masters

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a masters degree in Liberal Arts.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $50,418         11       18.33   Top and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (people who manage other managers)
  $38,850          7       11.67   Teachers:  Secondary - other subjects
  $35,843          4        6.67   Teachers:  Elementary
  $56,965          4        6.67   Counselors, Educational and Vocational (Also see 236)
  $44,450          4        6.67   Artists, Broadcasters, Editors, Entertainers, Public Relations Specialists, Writers
  $60,000          2        3.33   Teachers:  Special education - primary and secondary
  $56,400          2        3.33   Teachers:  Secondary - social sciences
  $40,900          2        3.33   Teachers:  Secondary - computer, math or sciences
  $40,500          2        3.33   Professors:  OTHER health specialties
  $77,500          2        3.33   Sales Occupations - Commodities Except Retail (e.g., industrial machinery/equipment/supplies, medical and dental equiptment/supplies)
  $32,122          2        3.33   OTHER administrative (e.g., record clerks, telephone operators)
  $30,794          2        3.33   Librarians, Archivists, Curators Managers, Executives, Administrators (Also see 151-153)
  $30,500          2        3.33   OTHER marketing and sales occupations
  $28,565          2        3.33   OTHER management related occupations
  $32,500          1        1.67   Economists
  $33,800          1        1.67   Computer engineer - hardware
  $37,440          1        1.67   Professors:  Computer Science
  $32,000          1        1.67   Teachers:  Pre-Kindergarten and kindergarten
  $31,200          1        1.67   Teachers:  OTHER precollegiate area
  $45,000          1        1.67   Computer system analysts
  $50,000          1        1.67   Registered nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, therapists, physician assistants
  $30,000          1        1.67   Clergy and Other Religious Workers
  $27,500          1        1.67   Accountants, auditors, and other financial specialists
  $20,000          1        1.67   OTHER service occupations, except health
  $73,000          1        1.67   Professors:  Business Commerce and Marketing
  $16,640          1        1.67   Sales Occupations - Retail (e.g., furnishings, clothing, motor vehicles, cosmetics)

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Ph.D.

The information in the table below is based on data from people of all sexes and ages whose most recent college degree was a Ph.D. degree in Liberal Arts.

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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $19,638          1       25.00   Social Workers
  $22,000          1       25.00   Professors:  English
  $39,000          1       25.00   Artists, Broadcasters, Editors, Entertainers, Public Relations Specialists, Writers
  $51,000          1       25.00   Professors:  Foreign Language

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Masters Degrees earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts



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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Field of Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $58,510         31       11.31   Business administration and management
  $45,744         20        7.30   Social Work
  $43,427         18        6.57   Education:  OTHER education
  $40,413         16        5.84   Education:  Administration
  $48,598         13        4.74   Education:  Elementary teacher education
  $52,211         10        3.65   Education:  Counselor education/guidance services
  $45,696         10        3.65   Education:  Special education
  $42,808          9        3.28   Library Science
  $55,103          8        2.92   OTHER foreign languages and literature
  $50,011          8        2.92   Education:  Secondary teacher education
  $34,670          7        2.55   OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
  $40,186          7        2.55   Psychology:  Counseling
  $64,971          7        2.55   Financial management
  $38,000          6        2.19   Public administration
  $68,264          5        1.82   Health services administration
  $34,460          5        1.82   Architecture/Environmental Design
  $73,750          4        1.46   Computer science
  $41,225          4        1.46   Psychology:  Clinical
  $79,525          4        1.46   Business, general
  $52,250          4        1.46   International relations
  $42,667          3        1.09   Psychology:  General
  $50,459          3        1.09   OTHER business management/administrative services
  $50,197          3        1.09   History, other
 $104,320          3        1.09   Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
  $28,541          3        1.09   Political science and government
  $38,033          3        1.09   OTHER FIELDS (Not Listed)
  $53,031          3        1.09   Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
  $40,177          3        1.09   Psychology:  Educational
  $74,000          3        1.09   Business marketing/marketing management
  $33,735          3        1.09   Accounting
  $40,177          3        1.09   Education:  Educational psychology
  $17,789          2         .73   Sociology
  $62,500          2         .73   Computer/information sciences, general
  $20,600          2         .73   OTHER communications
  $49,250          2         .73   Psychology:  Experimental
  $36,546          2         .73   OTHER social sciences
  $30,000          2         .73   English Language and Literature/Letters
  $45,300          2         .73   Communications, general
  $69,000          2         .73   Liberal Arts/General Studies
  $91,812          2         .73   Public health (including environmental health and epidemiology)
  $36,500          2         .73   Operations research
  $65,000          1         .36   Journalism
 $120,000          1         .36   Business/managerial economics
  $68,000          1         .36   Education:  Mathematics teacher education
  $73,000          1         .36   OTHER engineering
 $114,400          1         .36   Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
  $95,000          1         .36   Information services and systems
  $84,276          1         .36   Economics
  $80,000          1         .36   Forestry sciences (Except management)
  $80,000          1         .36   Physical therapy and other rehabilitation/therapeutic services
  $80,000          1         .36   Dramatic arts
  $10,000          1         .36   Fine arts, all fields
  $63,000          1         .36   Engineering: Mechanical
  $58,000          1         .36   Criminology
  $45,000          1         .36   Engineering: Materials, including ceramics and textiles
  $43,000          1         .36   Biology, general
  $41,600          1         .36   Mechanical engineering-related technologies
  $40,000          1         .36   Health/medical technologies
  $38,400          1         .36   OTHER psychology
  $37,000          1         .36   Philosophy of science
  $36,400          1         .36   Criminal Justice/Protective Services
  $35,000          1         .36   OTHER mathematics
  $32,400          1         .36   OTHER visual and performing arts
  $32,400          1         .36   OTHER public affairs
  $31,200          1         .36   Zoology, general
  $27,612          1         .36   Linguistics
  $18,000          1         .36   Education:  Science teacher education
  $12,000          1         .36   Area/Ethnic Studies

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PhD's earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts



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  Avg 1993   Number of     Pct of
  Salary    Observations   Majors  Description of Field of Study
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $40,286          7       13.46   OTHER philosophy, religion, theology
  $85,800          5        9.62   Law/Prelaw/Legal Studies
  $52,500          4        7.69   Education:  Administration
  $52,667          3        5.77   Psychology:  Clinical
  $42,500          3        5.77   OTHER foreign languages and literature
 $107,333          3        5.77   Medicine (e.g., dentistry, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, veterinary)
  $95,000          2        3.85   Psychology:  General
  $27,495          2        3.85   OTHER psychology
  $56,000          1        1.92   Cell and molecular biology
  $12,900          1        1.92   Microbiology
 $100,000          1        1.92   History, other
  $97,300          1        1.92   Psychology:  Counseling
  $93,300          1        1.92   Education:  Special education
  $86,684          1        1.92   Engineering: Nuclear
  $18,000          1        1.92   Education:  Secondary teacher education
  $82,323          1        1.92   OTHER business management/administrative services
  $80,000          1        1.92   Business administration and management
  $60,096          1        1.92   Animal sciences
  $60,000          1        1.92   Psychology:  Educational
  $60,000          1        1.92   Education:  Educational psychology
  $33,000          1        1.92   Biochemistry
  $54,000          1        1.92   Psychology:  Experimental
  $53,100          1        1.92   Education:  OTHER education
  $18,000          1        1.92   Psychology:  Social
  $20,800          1        1.92   English Language and Literature/Letters
  $42,000          1        1.92   OTHER FIELDS (Not Listed)
  $30,000          1        1.92   Dramatic arts
  $40,000          1        1.92   Political science and government
  $39,400          1        1.92   Anthropology and archeology
  $39,000          1        1.92   Liberal Arts/General Studies
  $36,000          1        1.92   Linguistics
  $36,000          1        1.92   Fine arts, all fields
  $33,000          1        1.92   Biochemistry and biophysics

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Other Professiona Degrees earned by students with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts

Other advanced degrees include: JD, LLB, ThD, MD, and the DDS.

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  Av