SEPT. 3, 2025 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released the Educational Attainment in the United States: 2024 table package examining the education level of adults age 18 and older by age, sex, race, nativity and other demographic and social characteristics. Data are based on statistics from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

• In 2024, 42.8% of the population ages 25 to 39, 41.5% ages 40 to 54, and 34.2% age 55 and older held a bachelor’s degree or higher.

• In 2024, 40.1% of women and 37.1% of men age 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher. 

In 2024, 49.3% of employed workers had a high school diploma or associate degree and 44.5% had a bachelor’s degree or higher as their highest level of educational attainment, and 6.1% did not have a high school diploma or equivalent.

• In 2024, 76.5% of people who worked in professional and related occupations and 64.2% of people in management, business and financial occupations held a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• The occupation with the highest percentage of high school diploma or associate degree holders was installation, maintenance and repair (78.3%).
• The industry with the highest percentage of workers with a high school diploma or associate degree was transportation and utilities (67.5%).
• The industries with the highest percentage of workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher were information (64.9%) and education and health services (61.2%).

The Current Population Survey, sponsored by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is the primary source of labor force statistics for the nation’s population. More information on confidentiality protection, methodology, sampling and nonsampling error, and definitions is available in the technical documentation. All comparative statements in this tip sheet have undergone statistical testing, and, unless otherwise noted, all are statistically significant at the 10 percent significance level.

No news release associated with these products. Tip sheet only.

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