Ranked: America’s 20 Lowest-Paying College Degrees
The lowest-paying college degrees can have a significant impact on lifetime earnings. While salary is only one factor when choosing a major, some fields consistently generate lower wages than others.
This visualization, created in partnership with Terzo as part of the Markets in a Minute series, ranks America’s lowest paying college degrees based on median mid-career wages. The data comes from the New York Fed and highlights which majors have the lowest earning potential in 2024.
Education Degrees Make Up Half the List
Education majors account for many of the lowest paying college degrees in America. Early childhood education ranks last overall, with a median mid-career wage of $52k.
| Rank | Major | Mid-Career Median Wage ($k) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Childhood Education | 52 |
| 2 | Elementary Education | 55 |
| 3 | General Education | 56 |
| 4 | Special Education | 56 |
| 5 | Miscellaneous Education | 60 |
| 6 | Social Services | 60 |
| 7 | Secondary Education | 62 |
| 8 | Family and Consumer Sciences | 65 |
| 9 | Anthropology | 65 |
| 10 | Theology and Religion | 66 |
| 11 | Health Services | 67 |
| 12 | Nutrition Sciences | 70 |
| 13 | Treatment Therapy | 70 |
| 14 | Psychology | 72 |
| 15 | Fine Arts | 72 |
| 16 | Liberal Arts | 75 |
| 17 | Leisure and Hospitality | 75 |
| 18 | Earth Sciences | 75 |
| 19 | General Social Sciences | 75 |
| 20 | Performing Arts | 75 |
Elementary education, general education, special education, and secondary education also appear in the lowest-earning list. Despite lower pay, these professions play a critical role in developing future generations.
Lowest-Paying Social Science Majors Face Lower Earnings
Several social science majors also rank among the lowest-paying college degrees. Social services, anthropology, theology and religion, psychology, and liberal arts all appear on the list.
These fields often lead to careers in public service, nonprofits, education, or community organizations. While demand remains steady, compensation tends to lag behind more technical professions.
Arts and Health Fields Also Feature
Fine arts and performing arts both rank among the lowest-paying majors, with median mid-career wages of $72k and $75k, respectively.
Several health-related degrees also make the list. Health services, nutrition sciences, and treatment therapy all report median mid-career wages below $71k.
What the Lowest Paying College Degrees Mean for CFOs
Compensation varies widely across industries and occupations. Understanding long-term earning trends can help finance leaders benchmark labor costs, evaluate talent markets, and better understand workforce dynamics.
In a market where success increasingly depends on maximizing existing assets, contract data has become an important source of untapped value. NirvanAI helps businesses unlock insights hidden within their contracts, turning complex data into actionable intelligence. For CFOs, that means faster decisions, lower risk, and a clearer view of opportunities across the organization.
Curious about the highest-paying college degrees? Check them out here.