Yahoo's 10 worst college degrees by income.

[adnelson60087]

Guess why I posted it here. No one really takes our profession seriously. That is certainly clear from these rankings. Look at Elementary Ed...that is just pathetic. These are all central to a fully functional school, IMHO.



http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-worst_paying_college_degrees-1263


No surprise, engineering degrees continue to be top earners--and (also no big shocker) you have to go pretty far down the list before you see the liberal arts well represented.

But there's more to choosing a major than comparing dollar amounts. We salute and congratulate the graduates whose interests (and hard work) have led them to the following degrees--the lowest-earning degrees on PayScale's list.

7. Education (starting annual salary: $36,200; mid-career annual salary: $54,100)
For the right people, teaching is an immensely rewarding career--and it's truly a noble one. The good news is, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunities for primary, secondary, and special education teachers are expected to grow by 14 percent in the coming decade. And there will be plenty of new opportunities in continuing education for adults, as professional skill requirements change ever more rapidly.

2. Elementary education (starting annual salary: $33,000; mid-career annual salary: $42,400)
Specializing in elementary education means a lower median salary than an education degree (number 7).

1. Social work (starting annual salary: $33,400; mid-career annual salary: $41,600)
They say that crime doesn't pay. As this list seems to point out, neither does helping people. So it's a good thing that many college students seem to believe that helping others is its own reward--social workers are an indispensable safety net for people who've fallen on difficult times. And the BLS reports that the outlook for opportunities in this field are favorable--particularly for social workers who work in rural areas or with senior citizens.

[nosmokes]

1. Yes, and we can see how well the current dysfunctional system of job valuation

is working for society...

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Are you sure the article said 'college degrees'?

It seems to be talking about some kind of vocational training program.

That's not what college is, or is for.

[zbdent]

3. I find it strange that a bunch of people who say that teaching is a noble profession

and "profess immense respect for teachers" suddenly badmouth them without a second thought when it comes to their contracts coming up for renewal ...

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Isn't it a shame? The things that have true value, pay the least. Explains why the business and law

schools are so crowded and well funded and the arts and science colleges are broke.

[LiberalEsto]

5. There are huge teacher layoffs coming

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is full of crap. I've read that 100,000 to 300,000 teachers will be laid off in this country in the coming months because of declining tax revenues. Our county school district will lay off at least 500, and a neighboring county is expecting to cut 800 jobs.

My daughter, who is working on her associates degree in elementary math education, is so discouraged and demoralized by this news that she doesn't think it's worth going on to earn a 4-year education degree.

It would cost at least $30,000, all of which would have to come from loans. And there's no guarantee whatsoever that she would find a teaching job in the foreseeable future.

What on earth can I do to help her? Tell her to start her education over for a third time to study for yet another career that might not be open when she graduates?

[tonysam]

6. They are traditionally "female" jobs, that's why

The assumption behind these rotten salaries is women are supported by husbands who actually earn the major income of a household.

Never mind the reality of people who try to live on their own on these miserable salaries. I am just explaining the historical reason why these jobs pay rotten salaries.

[SocialistLez]

7. Social Work major here

I did look at their methodology and they looked at payscale.com and this is based on people who just stay with those degrees.

It doesn't include those who major in that and later get a master's degree or a Ph. D.