Nowadays, Master’s degrees are becoming more and more popular, and for good reasons. For many people, these graduate programs represent a way in which they can expand their skill set and knowledge, as well as a method to ensure that they will be able to secure a good job once they finish studies. However, with some Master’s degrees this might not be the case. If you’re choosing a graduate program in a field that is declining or not in demand, you won’t have many chances of getting a job fast or receiving a high paycheck.
We would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the 8 worst Master’s degrees for finding a job. They were ranked according to median annual pay, which is the amount at which half the employees in the field make less and half make more. If you’re looking for a graduate program, make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. Let’s take a look at the countdown.
No. 8: Biology
Median annual pay: $70,245
Job titles: biologist, school teacher, biological technician
While there are a variety of jobs one could pursue after obtaining their Master’s degree in Biology, not all of them have particularly promising career outlooks. Moreover, landing a job in the field is not the easiest of tasks.
No. 7: English
Median annual pay: $62,021
Job titles: writer, editor, teacher, professor
Most of the job titles associated with holding a Master’s degree in English have quite a low rate of projected growth for the next decade; around 1% according to the US Bureau of Labor. In addition, they aren’t the highest paid either.
No. 6: History
Median annual pay: $60,951
Job titles: historian, school teacher, archivist
Most of the people who undergo a History graduate program will become a historian or a high school history teacher. While this might be your passion, you have to be willing to also accept the paycheck associated with these job titles.
No. 5: Education
Median annual pay: $56,627
Job titles: school teacher, school principal, special education teacher
Your career prospects can vary quite a lot after completing a graduate program in Education. For example, school principals tend to be much better paid than teachers.
No. 4: Social Work
Median annual pay: $53,958
Job titles: social worker, clinical therapist
The reason why social work might not be the best option for a Master’s program is the fact that starting salaries are notoriously low. Other than that, this field is expected to register a growth over the next few years, according to the US Bureau of Labor.
No. 3: Music
Median annual pay: $53,458
Job titles: music teacher, musician, composer, music director
Music might not be the best option for a Master’s degree simply because finding a job is usually difficult. And even after landing one, salaries might not also be stable. One exception is represented by those who choose to become a music teacher, but keep in mind that the Master’s degree is typically the minimum requirement for teaching at a conservatory or university.
No. 2: Library and Information Science
Median annual pay: $51,479
Job titles: librarian, media specialist
Not only is this field not particularly high paid, but library jobs and media-related positions are expected to register a decline over the next decade.
No. 1: Counseling
Median annual pay: $50,513
Job titles: therapist, social worker, counselor
Even though counseling is a growing industry, people working in this field have the lowest starting salary in our countdown. While it might be a relatively good career path in the long run, graduates will spend quite some time paying off their student loans.
