Even after accounting for field of study and choice of occupation, LMI Office research analyst Sanjukta Chaudhuri finds that yawning gender and race/ethnicity-based earnings gaps still exist.

For the most part, obtaining a post-secondary degree leads to better labor market outcomes, including higher income. In Minnesota, median earnings of high school graduates working full-time are $36,000; $45,000 for those with an associate degree; $58,000 for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree; and $72,000 for those with five or more years of college.

Field of study is also an important factor. Undergraduates who majored in computer science earn a median salary of $86,000; graduates of nursing programs earn $73,000; and graduates of early childhood education programs earn $41,000 annually, according to the American Community Survey.

Some programs of study – nursing being a great example – train for specific occupations; others are not so closely aligned to specific occupations. Both occupational and educational choice make a difference to lifelong earnings.

Chaudhuri joins many other researchers and studies in identifying additional factors associated with earnings: Gender, race, ethnicity, and immigration status. Although it’s not conclusive, she examines three occupations – accountant and auditor; software developer, applications and systems software; and registered nurse – to support her findings that gender and race/ethnicity-based earnings gaps exist in Minnesota.

Read College Major, Occupational Pathways, and Labor Force Outcomes by Gender and Race/Ethnicity in Minnesota Economic Trends.