Bachelor's vs. Master's: How Does Your Salary Stack Up?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/0w/ar5b0v861nkcb2gqbd0w.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/0w/ar5b0v861nkcb2gqbd0w.gif" /></a><br /></div>These days, education is playing a bigger part in your career than ever before. More and more, employers are encouraging employees to take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs to go back to school -- but workers wonder if it's worth the time and effort. <br /><br />Additionally, the unsightly job market is making college students rethink their entry into the real world. Instead, many students are continuing their education -- but they don't know if the extra credentials will help or hurt them when they do join the work force.<br /><br />"The role that education level plays in your salary depends on the nature of the job and the relevance of your education," says Jim Brennan, senior associate at ERI Economic Research Institute. "A Ph.D. in physics won't earn you more money as a cab driver, but it will probably put you at the high end of the starting-pay scale for physical stress measurement technicians, and it may be merely an essential entry requirement for rocket scientists." <br /><br />All else being equal, more formal education or advanced credentials in the specific field of work or occupational area will carry some weight in starting-salary offers -- how much difference will depend on the employers and their practices, Brennan adds. It's also important to remember that in this economy, the job market is more competitive than ever. While it may not boost your salary much in some cases, having higher education on your résumé certainly won't hurt.<br /><br />Here's a look at how starting salaries can differ based on the degree type and level,* according to CBSalary.com.<br /><br />Degree type: Accounting** <br />Bachelor's degree: $45,893<br />Master's degree: $50,468 <br />Related careers: accountant, auditor, bookkeeping clerk, tax examiner, budget analyst, loan officer<br /><br />Degree type: Art <br />Bachelor's degree: $34,460<br />Master's degree: $43,112<br />Related careers: art director, illustrator, animator, multimedia artist<br /><br />Degree type: Biochemistry <br />Bachelor's degree: $38,511<br />Master's degree: $46,921<br />Related careers: agronomist, forensics specialist, geneticist, pharmacologist, environmental scientist<br /><br />Degree type: Chemistry <br />Bachelor's degree: $45,385<br />Master's degree: $56,617<br />Related careers: waste management specialist, technical writer, science technician, food scientist <br /><br />Degree type: Computer programming <br />Bachelor's degree: $50,985<br />Master's degree: $72,515<br />Related careers: computer systems analyst, computer programmer, computer scientist, computer systems designer <br /><br />Degree type: Economics <br />Bachelor's degree: $47,326<br />Master's degree: $63,429<br />Related careers: economist, loan officer, financial manager, reporter<br /><br />Degree type: Elementary teacher education <br />Bachelor's degree: $33,242<br />Master's degree: $43,997<br />Related careers: Any position within an elementary school<br /><br />Degree type: Engineering <br />Bachelor's degree: $54,181<br />Master's degree: $69,752<br />Related careers: engineering technician, sales engineer, civil engineer, architect, drafter <br /><br />Degree type: Finance <br />Bachelor's degree: $41,446<br />Master's degree: $50,468<br />Related careers: insurance underwriter; budget analyst; securities, commodities and financial services sales agent <br /><br />Degree type: Foreign languages and literatures<br />Bachelor's degree: $37,113 <br />Master's degree: $43,112<br />Related careers: teacher, writer, interpreter<br /><br />Degree type: History<br />Bachelor's degree: $37,340<br />Master's degree: $43,112<br />Related careers: archivist, curator, librarian, researcher, political aide<br /><br />Degree type: Human resources management<br />Bachelor's degree: $37,874<br />Master's degree: $56,094<br />Related careers: compensation and benefits; training and development; employment, recruitment and placement specialist<br /><br />Degree type: Science management<br />Bachelor's degree: $49,116<br />Master's degree: $70,668<br />Related careers: operational researcher, investment analyst, market research analyst, transportation planner, systems analyst <br /><br />Degree type: Mathematics<br />Bachelor's degree: $50,582<br />Master's degree: $57,471<br />Related careers: statistician, mathematician, actuary, cost estimator<br /><br />Degree type: Philosophy <br />Bachelor's degree: $34,163<br />Master's degree: $43,112<br />Related careers: professor, lawyer, policy analyst, lobbyist, critic<br /><br />Degree type: Physical sciences <br />Bachelor's degree: $31,258<br />Master's degree: $69,842<br />Related careers: animal scientist, hydrologist, meteorologist, engineer, fish and game warden<br /><br />Degree type: Psychology <br />Bachelor's degree: $35,085<br />Master's degree: $37,528<br />Related careers: probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, career counselor, health educator, outreach coordinator <br /><br />Degree type: Sociology <br />Bachelor's degree: $36,905<br />Master's degree: $38,749<br />Related careers: social worker, sociology teacher, market researcher, school counselor, public policy analyst<br /><br />* The 2008 Starting Salary by Degree: Bachelors vs. Masters Index"explores salary offers for graduating students. The data in this index are broken down by type of major and type of degree (e.g. bachelors in engineering). Data are taken from CareerBuilder and SalaryExpert research, and represent starting salary offers for recent graduates in 2008. <br /><br />**Please note that some majors are general and can be narrowed down to more specific areas of study.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Bachelor's vs. Master's: How Does Your Salary Stack Up?

These days, education is playing a bigger part in your career than ever before. More and more, employers are encouraging employees to take a...

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