Staying in school is the best option!

Educational attainment, annual earnings, and unemployment rates

Don Achelpohl

High school graduates earn close to $10,000 more per year than non-graduates. That is one really good reason to stay in school! However, there is more data to support the importance of a High School diploma.

As a person receives additional post-secondary training or education, earnings continue to rise. A person with a Bachelor’s Degree earned $30,394 more on average per year than a person without a high school diploma.

This chart is based on recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Click on the chart to enlarge it.

Education attainment also lowers a person’s risk of being unemployed. In March, 2008, high school graduates had a 3.1% lower unemployment rate. Increase post-secondary training and education continued to reduce the unemployment rate with those individuals having a Bachelor’s Degree or higher having an unemployment rate 3% less than a high school graduate and almost four times lower than individuals without a high school diploma.

Over 30 years in the workforce, an individual without a high school diploma will earn $655,200. A high school graduate will earn $934,020. This is $287,820 more (43.9% more).

Stay in school! Make plans to attend a college, university, or vocational school after high school. Your future will be brighter.