We often hear the advice to ''stay in school''. Today, that advice is more important than ever.
- More education equals more pay and less chance of unemployment.
- Earnings go up with every year of school completed and get an extra boost when a degree program is completed.
- Education pays off because better educated workers learn tasks more easily and are usually more organized.
- Remember that differences in earnings can occur within academic disciplines and that the occupation you choose will make a definite difference in your earning capacity.
| Educational Attainment |
Annual Average
Earnings (U.S.) |
Unemployment Rate
2003 (U.S.) |
| |
| Not a high school graduate |
$20,592 |
8.8% |
| High school only |
$28,808 |
5.5% |
| Associate degree |
$34,944 |
4.0% |
| Bachelor's degree |
$46,800 |
3.3% |
| Master's degree |
$55,328 |
2.9% |
| Professional degree |
$67,964 |
1.7% |
| Doctorate degree |
$70,148 |
2.1% |
|
