Center for Career & Professional Development
How much do employers pay a liberal arts major?
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The average starting salary for a new college graduate earning a bachelor’s degree is $44,928—up 5 percent over the average starting salary earned by members of the Class of 2012, according to a new study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Generally, however, for humanities and social science majors, the average salary is $37,058.
Here’s how that plays out for some graduates with a humanities degree:
Source: April 2013 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers, copyright holder.
Where are liberal arts majors finding jobs?
If you’re a new English or history graduate—or you majored in one of the other humanities—you may be headed for the work force. Below are the top five industries taking entry-level hires from the Class of 2013, the majors they are hiring from, and the average salary new hires are being paid.
Top-Hiring Industries and Top Majors Hired
Industry |
2013 Average Salary |
Educational Services | |
English | $39,200 |
History | $40,300 |
Liberal Arts | $42,000 |
Healthcare and Social Assistance | |
English | $35,200 |
Sociology | $33,600 |
Federal, State, and Local Governments | |
English | $44,000 |
History | $55,100 |
Psychology | $41,300 |
Source: April 2013 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers, copyright holder.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.