Majors that Don't Pay Off

By Arkansas Next on Friday, April 5, 2024

It’s good to be mindful of majors that require high levels of education for relatively low wages in the career field.
(Wages based in arkansas and sourced from careeronestop.org)

JOBS IN SCIENCES
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Soil & Plant Scientist $29,480 Bachelor's
(Whoa! That's a low salary after
paying for a four-year degree.)
Prevision Agriculture Technician $38,730 Associate
Food Science Technician $39,160 Associate
Forest & Conservation Technicians $49,950 Associate
Survey Researchers $60,410 Master's
COMMUNICATIONS JOBS
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Writer & Author $46,740 Bachelor's
Editor $47,280 Bachelor's
Search Marketing Strategist $67,930 Bachelor's
Meeting, Convention & Event Planner $38,410 Bachelor's
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary $60,370
Doctoral (8 years of high tuition for just-OK pay.)
Broadcast Announcers & Radio Disc Jockeys $27,740 Bachelor's
HEALTH CARE JOBS
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Paramedic $47,120 Postsecondary Certificate
Health Care Social Workers $58,270 Master's
Massage Therapist $38,440 Postsecondary Certificate
Athletic Trainer $46,540 Master's
Midwife $34,530 Postsecondary Certificate
Physician Assistants $49,780 Master's
Veterinary Technologists & Technicians $30,000 Associate
BUSINESS JOBS
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Advertising Sales Agent $39,870 Bachelor's
Training & Development Specialist $45,390 Bachelor's
Fraud Examiners, Investigators & Analyst $44,720 Bachelor's
Appraisers of Personal and Business Property $38,010 Bachelor's
Labor Relations Specialist $43,840 Bachelor's
SOCIAL SCIENCES JOBS
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Directors, Religious Activities & Education $46,420 Bachelor's
Social & Community Service Manager $49,240 Bachelor's
Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Worker $42,010
Master's (Tough but meaningful work; but pay is
low compared to higher ed. cost!)
Historian $64,540 Master's
Urban and Regional Planner $60,310 Master's
Social Science Research Assistants $52,700 Bachelor's
Rehabilitation Counselors $32,340 Master's
JOBS IN EDUCATION
AVERAGE WAGE
DEGREE LEVEL
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary $66,100 Doctoral
Museum Curator $54,890 Master's
Farm & Home Management Educators $53,450 Master's
Librarians $52,620 Master's

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