EMBARGOED UNTIL: FEBRUARY 29, 1996 (THURSDAY) Public Information Office CB96-23 301-457-3030 301-457-4067 (TDD) Rosalind Bruno 301-457-2464 MONTHLY EARNINGS INFLUENCED BY FIELD OF TRAINING AND ATTAINMENT LEVELS, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS EMBARGOED UNTIL: FEBRUARY 29, 1996 (THURSDAY) - A law degree is associated with one of the highest average monthly earnings ($4,353), while a home economic degree is associated with the lowest ($1,165), according to a new Commerce Department Census Bureau report, "What's It Worth? Field of Training and Economic Status: Spring 1993" (P70-51). The report's author, Rosalind Bruno, says, "The choice of a major is one of the most difficult decisions for college students. Economic reward may be one of the motivating factors in making that choice." Bruno adds that, "No matter what the major, the higher the attainment level, the higher the earnings power." For instance, according to the report, persons with a degree beyond high school had average monthly earnings of $2,339. This was substantially more than individuals with either a high school diploma only ($1,080) or some college but with no degree ($1,303). For persons who did not complete high school, the mean monthly earnings was $508. Other highlights include: - For persons with degrees beyond high school, the mean monthly earnings ranged from $1,375 for persons with vocational certificates to $5,067 for persons with professional degrees. - While 15 percent of the highest earned degrees held by men were in the field of engineering, only 2 percent of highest degrees held by women were in this field. And, while 19 percent of women reported their highest degree in education, only 6 percent of men reported that same field. - Nearly one out of five individuals reporting post-secondary degrees specialized in the field of business/management. - In 1993, more than one out of four adults 18 years and older had a degree of some type beyond high school, a substantial increase over the 21 percent reported in 1984. The proportion of the adult population without a high school diploma decreased from 26 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 1993. As in all surveys, the data in this report are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error.-X-Editor's note: media representatives may obtain copies of the report from the Census Bureau's Public Information Office on 301-457-3030; fax: 301-457-3670; fax-on-demand: 301-457-4178 (Document number 1126); or e-mail: pio@census.gov. Other orders should be directed to the bureau's FastFax: 1-900-555-2Fax (there is a nominal fee); Customer Services Branch on 301-763-INFO(4636); or fax: 301-457-3842.
