Record-low housing inventory, high prices and low mortgage rates made an interesting backdrop for the 2021 real estate market. Millions fought tooth and nail to close on homes throughout the year, but millions more were unsuccessful in their attempts.
The 2021 housing market was booming, but that doesn’t mean buying a house was a breeze. In fact, 66{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of Americans who started last year with intentions to buy were unsuccessful, according to NerdWallet’s 2022 Home Buyer Report. With a lofty 26 million planning to buy homes this year, according to the survey, the lessons from failed 2021 attempts may contain guidance for this year’s shoppers.
More than one-third (35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of Americans who planned to buy a home in 2021 but didn’t do so say they postponed or canceled those plans due to the pandemic or related effects. Of course, there’s very little individual buyers can do about the broad public health and economic impacts we’re all experiencing, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
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Studying the most common barriers to buying in 2021 may give prospective homeowners the edge they need to close a deal this year.
1. Competitive offers close deals
Low inventory amid high demand makes for a competitive market, and in that regard, 2022 will be similar to 2021. One-fourth (25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of Americans who planned, but failed, to buy a home in 2021 say they made an offer on at least one home but didn’t ultimately go under contract.
A competitive offer isn’t only the highest offer. Sure, money talks, and you’re more likely to be successful if you can outbid the competition. But there are other ways to make your offer stand out.
Make the transaction look as easy as possible by keeping it simple and convenient for the seller. Demonstrate your ability to pay with a mortgage preapproval, suggest a speedy closing and let the seller choose the date, and offer to buy the home as-is after it’s professionally inspected. Your real estate agent can help you write an offer that gets moved to the top of the pile, without putting you at undue risk.
2. Available homes may not be perfect homes
The greater the housing shortage, the more flexible potential buyers will need to be.
One-fourth (25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of unsuccessful buyers in 2021 say they held off on their plans because they couldn’t find a home that met their needs. There’s a good chance the line between wants and needs, for many in this group, isn’t clearly defined.
Before you begin shopping, make a list of all of the features you’d like to have in a home. Then, mark those that aren’t truly necessary. The more features you can compromise on, the more likely you are to end up with a home of your own. This doesn’t mean you need to be willing to stuff a family of five into two bedrooms, but maybe you can do without a two-car garage or a finished basement.
3. Buying in 2022 will still be tough
Nearly one-fourth (24{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of unsuccessful buyers last year say they held off on their buying plans because they think it will be easier to buy in 2022. But the forces that made homebuying a challenge in 2021 will largely continue in 2022.
The rate of price growth may level off somewhat in the coming year, but prices aren’t likely to reverse course and come down dramatically. And the shortage of homes on the market isn’t likely to experience a dramatic change either. According to the same survey, of the potential home sellers who want to put their home on the market this year, 89{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} say something is holding them back — including concerns about being able to find or afford a new home themselves.
If you hope to buy this year, brace yourself for a challenge. Realistic expectations can insulate you from disappointment and help you build contingency plans for when you find yourself battling it out with other potential buyers.
4. Current home prices could bust budgets
It’s tempting to borrow more money or overextend yourself to get under contract. Don’t. Nearly one-fourth (24{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of last year’s successful buyers say they walked away from the market because they couldn’t afford the homes that were available.
Be fastidious when setting your homebuying budget, with the resolve that you’ll stick to it when the going gets tough. Stretching too far to buy a home only to find yourself house poor can be a recipe for sleepless nights under your new roof. A home affordability calculator can get you started in the right direction, accounting for all of your existing expenses along with those that come with homeownership.
5. Borrowing for a home isn’t a sure thing
Qualifying for a mortgage generally takes an adequate and consistent income, a manageable amount of existing debt and a credit history that makes you a good risk for lenders. While 16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of unsuccessful 2021 home buyers cited not being able to qualify for a mortgage, it’s possible some of them didn’t actually apply and merely assumed they would be denied.
Buying a home is most often a long-term goal, and it can take years to get your income and credit in shape enough to get a mortgage. Aim for a credit history that showcases on-time payments, keep debt levels down and save up a down payment to make your mortgage application most attractive. Keep in mind, a healthy down payment will reduce the total cost of your home loan by saving you in interest and private mortgage insurance (required on mortgages that have less than a 20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} down payment).
There are also programs available for first-time buyers that can make it somewhat easier to qualify for a home loan.
Check out more of this week’s best money reads from experts:
50 college majors that earn the least money
50 college majors that earn the least money
Career choices are often based on personal interests, experience, and potential income—and more and more, they require at least a college degree. What undergraduates choose to major in during college can be a strong indicator of what an individual’s financial future looks like—and it’s not always rosy news.
Stacker researched the 50 college majors that earn the least money, using PayScale’s 2020 College Salary Report. This report, released in 2021, surveyed 3.5 million college graduates and 835 bachelor degrees ranked by mid-career median salary, or the fitted salary one makes after working in the field for over 10 years. By definition, a fitted salary combines the base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime, and other forms of cash earnings.
Stock compensation was not included when considering the annual salary of each college major, but can be a significant portion of pay for specific executive and high-tech jobs. Further, a wage for the noted college major does not include the cash value of retirement benefits or the amount of other noncash benefits, including health care and other ancillary benefits. PayScale’s salaries do not directly reflect those of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). For most of the majors, BLS salaries are higher, even though the level of education required is the same.
Additionally, several low-paying teaching majors on the list confirm the plight of educators who graduate but can’t make ends meet on a minimum salary. Between rising student debt and inflation, it is likely many who majored in the noted subjects have second jobs to pay the bills.
Read on to find out the 50 college majors that earn the least money.
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#49. Rehabilitation services (tie)
– Early career pay: $34,100
– Mid-career pay: $55,700
Rehabilitation services salaries may be low, but part of these numbers include very low average pay for rehabilitation aides. These workers make an average of just $10 an hour, which is much lower than the higher end of the spectrum for the profession—occupational therapists, who top out at approximately $46 an hour.
#49. Biblical studies and practical ministries (tie)
– Early career pay: $35,100
– Mid-career pay: $55,700
While senior pastors can expect to earn more than those just starting out, some in the biblical studies and practical ministries professions are impacted by the type of church they work for. Many religious organizations are nonprofits and face intrinsic caps on how much they are likely to earn, limiting the amount they can pay their staff, and to make sure they do not run afoul of U.S. laws prohibiting “excessive” salaries at nonprofits.
#47. Pastoral ministry (tie)
– Early career pay: $37,300
– Mid-career pay: $55,600
Pastoral ministers help people in times of spiritual distress and lead religious organizations. But people don’t pay for spiritual counsel, other than tithes, and therefore there are no typical ways to drive up earnings.
#47. Parks and recreation management (tie)
– Early career pay: $40,600
– Mid-career pay: $55,600
Parks and recreation workers typically work for the government, which means they may see fewer pay raises than other workers. Some government workers just received their first pay raise in over a decade in 2019.
#46. Legal assistant studies
– Early career pay: $36,400
– Mid-career pay: $55,500
Legal assistants may hope to become lawyers, who typically earn significantly higher salaries. However, without a law degree, legal assistants are only legally allowed to perform certain tasks, which caps the value of their services.
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#45. Applied management
– Early career pay: $43,600
– Mid-career pay: $55,400
Applied management workers evaluate the success of different business practices and work to implement better and more efficient modes of decision-making and operations. While some who work in this profession may assist corporations like banks or tech firms, others may assist nonprofits or companies in industries that tend to pay less.
#42. Vocal performance (tie)
– Early career pay: $38,900
– Mid-career pay: $55,300
While some vocal performance majors may go on to perform in sold-out arenas, many end up working in less lucrative careers. These include positions at churches, such as worship pastors and directors of music ministry, which come with decidedly lower salaries.
#42. Tourism and travel (tie)
– Early career pay: $40,600
– Mid-career pay: $55,300
California State University touts high figures when promoting its travel and tourism major, including that one in every nine U.S. jobs depends on the industry, and that travel and tourism support over 8 million jobs nationwide. According to the school, some in management positions have the potential to earn more than $100,000 annually, including those working as a convention and visitors bureau director or a wedding planner. But typical pay is closer to half that figure.
#42. Social welfare (tie)
– Early career pay: $44,900
– Mid-career pay: $55,300
Social welfare salaries are low in part because of the needy populations they serve. Professionals in this field experience limited opportunities to earn higher salaries.
#40. Audio production (tie)
– Early career pay: $43,700
– Mid-career pay: $54,700
While some high-flying audio producers may rake in significant amounts of money overseeing the creation of records, such a career is dependent on people actually making music, movies, and other entertainment. When surprise events like COVID-19 impact production, the earnings of an audio producer are similarly affected.
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#40. Bible studies and theology (tie)
– Early career pay: $38,100
– Mid-career pay: $54,700
All jobs depend on having clients, and this includes religious jobs. Bible studies and theology professionals face challenging headwinds in the United States in this respect. Fewer Americans than ever report themselves as religious.
#39. Church ministries
– Early career pay: $38,100
– Mid-career pay: $54,600
Careers in church ministry are diverse, ranging from pastorships to technician jobs, overseeing the production of services. But the common denominator influencing pay is that joining a church is free, which limits the financial base of each church to pay its workers high salaries.
#37. Special education (tie)
– Early career pay: $39,200
– Mid-career pay: $54,500
There are several special education career paths to take after majoring in the subject, aside from teaching. Prospects of becoming a residential manager, preschool director, or direct support professional is why some choose the undergraduate major, then get their master’s degree. Working with the disabled is in high demand, due to teachers retiring and more students needing help.
#37. Family studies (tie)
– Early career pay: $35,900
– Mid-career pay: $54,500
Family studies professionals help tutor, develop, and supervise children. Some competition they face in commanding high salaries? Teenage babysitters, whom parents may feel more comfortable paying lower wages.
#34. Family and community services (tie)
– Early career pay: $38,500
– Mid-career pay: $54,400
Family and community services careers often involve helping people with little capital or power, including the impoverished and disabled citizens accessing social services. Because these services are offered free of charge, there is a limited capital base with which to reward workers.
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#34. Communication sciences and disorders (tie)
– Early career pay: $40,900
– Mid-career pay: $54,400
Communications sciences and disorders specialists address an array of issues that technology may be rendering less reliant on therapy. For example, cochlear implants for deaf children and babies can now be purchased for as low as $530 with insurance, reducing the need for hearing therapy, as a greater number of patients can hear via the technology.
#34. Ceramics (tie)
– Early career pay: $39,900
– Mid-career pay: $54,400
Students looking to major in ceramics will learn about the science behind materials, plus sculpture and drawing skills. Courses in personal style development, wheel-throwing techniques, firing and kiln operation, oxidation, ceramic murals, mixed media, and slips and glazes are usually required to graduate. Many with a degree in ceramics become professional potters, teachers, artists, or sculptors.
#33. Speech and hearing
– Early career pay: $41,400
– Mid-career pay: $54,300
Speech and hearing professionals’ salaries suffer from improved technology. Hearing aids have become increasingly sophisticated, reducing the need for much administrative assistance after purchase.
#32. Community development
– Early career pay: $42,100
– Mid-career pay: $53,900
Community development workers perform a wide array of tasks, from zoning and building inspections to budgets. However, they are typically paid by the government, so their salaries are capped within a certain range.
#31. Health and human services
– Early career pay: $41,500
– Mid-career pay: $53,700
Health and human services encompasses a vast array of jobs. On the higher end of the pay scale, these include jobs such as public health directors. But many other jobs included in health and human services typically have lower pay rates, such as social workers and correctional treatment specialists.
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#30. Office management
– Early career pay: $37,800
– Mid-career pay: $53,400
Manager may sound like a high-ranking title, but an office manager’s responsibilities are inherently clerical. This means they oversee other administrative activities in an office, and even when supervising, act in an assistant capacity to the executives and other workers in an office.
#28. Psychology and human services (tie)
– Early career pay: $35,000
– Mid-career pay: $53,300
While some therapists and life coaches might charge high prices for deep-pocketed clients who can pay out of pocket, many who work in psychology and human services have salaries constrained by the settings in which they work. Those who work in community rehabilitation centers, for example, make an average of just $30,350 a year, compared to over $75,000 a year for those who work for the government.
#28. History teacher education (tie)
– Early career pay: $45,400
– Mid-career pay: $53,000
Majoring in history teacher education likely means most graduates will teach the subject in elementary, secondary, or postsecondary schools. Being a history teacher, like other instruction degrees, requires those who major in the subject to become state-certified after student teaching. History teachers may work with special education teachers to make learning more accessible for students with learning difficulties, and can work with debate teams, for example, because of their knowledge of current events.
#26. Therapeutic recreation (tie)
– Early career pay: $37,700
– Mid-career pay: $52,300
Therapeutic recreation specialists work with patients to improve the minds, bodies, and spirits of those with disease or disability. This demographic may be less likely to have resources to pay therapists significant sums, which may play a role in driving down salaries.
#26. Youth ministry (tie)
– Early career pay: $35,300
– Mid-career pay: $52,300
Youth ministers work with children and teens to coordinate related activities at a church or religious organization. Churches typically operate as nonprofits, and therefore the salaries of their workers, including youth ministers, lack the ability to respond to the market and offer higher salaries.
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#25. Community and human services
– Early career pay: $40,500
– Mid-career pay: $52,100
Community and Human Services workers endeavor to improve the lives of their communities and the individuals who work in them. And even though salaries are not as high as those from other majors, the BLS has noted that job growth in this field is projected to remain high in the next decade.
#24. Christian ministry
– Early career pay: $35,500
– Mid-career pay: $52,000
#22. Social work (tie)
– Early career pay: $36,600
– Mid-career pay: $51,600
Although social work jobs may not have the highest starting salaries, job prospects for social workers are actually quite positive. As health care spending continues to increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work jobs in clinical settings in particular will continue to enjoy a rise in demand for workers.
#22. Elementary education (tie)
– Early career pay: $37,700
– Mid-career pay: $51,600
Majoring in elementary education means teaching and instructing young students. Majors in the program must choose a specific subject to study, including either math, history, science, or English. Some who major in the subject consider careers as guidance counselors, juvenile correction officers, long-term substitute teachers, online instructors, preschool teachers, or adjunct professors.
#21. Office administration
– Early career pay: $38,200
– Mid-career pay: $51,200
Graduating with a major in office administration opens doors to many career paths, including medical office manager, staff specialist, executive assistant, management secretary, and purchasing consultant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics details other career opportunities that do not require a degree but have comparable and higher annual salaries for those who major in the subject. Among those occupations are police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, who make $40,660, and administrative assistants, who make $38,880.
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#20. Voice and opera
– Early career pay: $32,900
– Mid-career pay: $50,800
Voice and opera students preparing to perform on a professional level after graduation must learn theatrical techniques and stage repertory through courses including diction, foreign languages, music theory, and humanities. While receiving private instruction during the undergraduate curriculum, students also perform in choral ensembles. Students who choose not to sing opera after studying the major can easily transition into other careers, including teaching art, drama, or music, or becoming a musical director or composer.
#19. Human services (tie)
– Early career pay: $36,600
– Mid-career pay: $50,700
Although careers in human services vary widely, their common denominator is that they help people who would likely be unable to help themselves. As such, these jobs, which range from family court advocates to crisis support workers, serve overall a population with limited resources who may not be able to compensate them highly.
#18. Elementary teaching (tie)
– Early career pay: $34,400
– Mid-career pay: $50,700
Elementary teaching majors will teach kindergarten through eighth grade. Courses in classroom management and curriculum and instruction help prepare future graduates to teach. A core group of classes, including English, mathematics, history, social studies, foreign languages, and science are required for all elementary teaching majors, who must become certified in the state they work in.
#17. Baking and pastry arts
– Early career pay: $36,000
– Mid-career pay: $50,600
These days, it seems that everyone is a food blogger. And this means that more people than ever are likely to be trying their hands at baking and pastry-making at home, reducing the need for specialized bakers.
#16. Human services management
– Early career pay: $43,500
– Mid-career pay: $50,500
Human services management jobs are a specific role for those interested in helping or managing others in social work or related fields. Although the average salary is not extremely high, these positions pay more than nonsupervisory roles in the same field. Many of these roles require additional licensing.
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#15. Counseling
– Early career pay: $37,100
– Mid-career pay: $49,300
Similar to therapists, those who specialize in counseling suffer in part from competition. Wages are lower than they might otherwise be because of the sheer number of people offering counseling services.
#14. Recreational therapy
– Early career pay: $36,400
– Mid-career pay: $49,200
Recreational therapists help many Americans, especially older adults, deal with disabilities, injuries, and illnesses—typically via arts and crafts, aquatics, games, and other activities. Although the pay is not high, these professions are projected to increase in demand, as an aging generation of Americans looks to the future.
#13. Child development
– Early career pay: $35,500
– Mid-career pay: $49,100
Child care workers have an average hourly wage of just $10.31 an hour. Some advocacy groups and politicians have advocated paying a higher wage to these groups to meet growing demands for a $15 minimum wage these groups are demanding.
#12. Middle school education
– Early career pay: $39,000
– Mid-career pay: $48,300
After majoring in middle school education, graduates go on to teach students in grades 5 through 9. Teaching that specific age group entails taking undergraduate courses in a breadth of subjects, including English, science, mathematics, and social studies. Washington University in St. Louis suggests those majoring in middle school education may consider adding a concentrated study in their curriculum, since middle schools are interdisciplinary and teachers who have expertise in more than one content field may have an advantage in the job market.
#11. Educational psychology
– Early career pay: $34,600
– Mid-career pay: $47,600
Educational psychologists typically work with schools to support the education and development of children. While some may be employed by private schools that draw from a significant tuition and donor base to pad staff salaries, others may work for public schools, which typically have more limited resources to draw upon.
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#10. Early childhood and elementary education
– Early career pay: $36,200
– Mid-career pay: $46,500
Students who major in early childhood and elementary education prepare to teach in both preschool and after-school programs, as well as kindergarten through sixth grade. Graduates must become certified to instruct students in whatever state they choose for work. With further schooling, some graduates of the major go onto to become administrators, such as principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, and college deans.
#9. Rehabilitation counseling
– Early career pay: $38,000
– Mid-career pay: $46,100
Rehabilitation counselors typically work to serve people living with disabilities. These services can range from mental health to physical health to practical life-skills training, and can be performed everywhere from detention centers to unemployment offices. Recipients typically do not pay for such services, and as such the salaries of rehabilitation counselors are limited.
#8. Addiction studies
– Early career pay: $36,300
– Mid-career pay: $44,800
Addiction studies majors can typically expect to work as addiction counselors or drug or alcohol treatment specialists. There is a large pay range for those who work in the field, with salaries dependent largely on level of education attained, geographic location, and the type of setting in which treatment is performed.
#7. Outdoor education
– Early career pay: $35,800
– Mid-career pay: $44,200
Outdoor education professionals help people enjoy the great outdoors. However perfect they may be for the outdoors enthusiast, some of these jobs are run by the government, which means they are capped within a certain pay bracket.
#6. Child and family studies
– Early career pay: $34,100
– Mid-career pay: $43,600
Childcare is one of the lowest-paying professions in the United States. One reason may be that many teenagers and other younger adults will work as babysitters and tutors to make side money, which makes it more difficult for professionals to demand higher wages.
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#5. Early childhood education
– Early career pay: $34,100
– Mid-career pay: $43,300
A child’s cognitive, emotional, and language development occur in the first five years of life, making early childhood education critical in an adolescent’s academic career. However, it is one of the lowest-paying majors on the list, further proving that those who enter the field are likely more concerned about the community than salary.
#4. Mental health
– Early career pay: $35,200
– Mid-career pay: $42,500
Mental health is a field that encompasses many different settings. Some mental health specialists may work in assisted living facilities, helping residents with dementia, while others may work with working professionals stressed and depressed about their jobs. Those working in private practice theoretically have no caps to their salaries, while those working in institutions may be more constrained by salary caps.
#3. Medical assisting
– Early career pay: $35,100
– Mid-career pay: $42,300
One issue that may be keeping medical assisting wages low is an oversupply. Some argue that too many qualified medical assistants are currently searching for work, keeping salaries low.
#2. Addictions counseling
– Early career pay: $38,800
– Mid-career pay: $42,200
Addiction counselors work to help those who are struggling with alcohol and substance abuse disorders. While some counselors may work at private rehabilitation clinics where fees allow the clinics to pay staff generously, many others work in the public sector, helping people in facilities run by state, local, and federal government.
#1. Metalsmithing
– Early career pay: $38,300
– Mid-career pay: $38,400
Many workers with degrees in metalsmithing find work as jewelers. Those working in the retail trade tend to make the most.
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50 college majors that earn the least money
Career choices are often based on personal interests, experience, and potential income—and more and more, they require at least a college degree. What undergraduates choose to major in during college can be a strong indicator of what an individual’s financial future looks like—and it’s not always rosy news.
Stacker researched the 50 college majors that earn the least money, using PayScale’s 2020 College Salary Report. This report, fresh with 2021 data, surveyed 3.5 million college graduates and 835 bachelor degrees ranked by mid-career median salary, or the fitted salary one makes after working in the field for over 10 years. By definition, a fitted salary combines the base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime, and other forms of cash earnings. Ties are broken by early career salary.
Stock compensation was not included when considering the annual salary of each college major but can be a significant portion of pay for specific executive and high-tech jobs. Further, a wage for the noted college major does not include the cash value of retirement benefits or the amount of other noncash benefits, including health care and other ancillary benefits. PayScale’s salaries do not directly reflect those of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). For most of the majors, BLS salaries are higher, even though the level of education required is the same.
Additionally, several low-paying teaching majors on the list confirm the plight of educators who graduate but can’t make ends meet on a minimum salary. Between rising student debt and inflation, it is likely many who majored in the noted subjects have second jobs to pay the bills.
Read on to find out the 50 college majors that earn the least money.
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#50. Parks and recreation management
– Early career pay: $42,700
– Mid-career pay: $58,300
Parks and recreation workers typically work for the government, which means they may see fewer pay raises than other workers. Some government workers just received their first pay raise in over a decade in 2019.
#49. Ceramics
– Early career pay: $42,200
– Mid-career pay: $58,300
Students looking to major in ceramics will learn about the science behind materials, plus sculpture and drawing skills. Courses in personal style development, wheel-throwing techniques, firing and kiln operation, oxidation, ceramic murals, mixed media, and slips and glazes are usually required to graduate. Many with a degree in ceramics become professional potters, teachers, artists, or sculptors.
#48. Vocal performance
– Early career pay: $42,600
– Mid-career pay: $58,000
While some vocal performance majors may go on to perform sold-out arenas, many end up working in less lucrative careers. These include positions at churches, such as worship pastors and directors of music ministry, which come with decidedly lower salaries.
#47. Pastoral ministry
– Early career pay: $38,700
– Mid-career pay: $58,000
Pastoral ministers help people in times of spiritual distress and lead religious organizations. But people don’t pay for spiritual counsel—other than tithes—and therefore there are no typical ways to drive up earnings.
#46. Art teacher education
– Early career pay: $40,300
– Mid-career pay: $57,500
Art teacher education majors most often go on to help nurture the next generation of creative minds, often at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Those who pursue this course of study may also find career opportunities in museums or as textbook illustrators.
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#45. Bible studies and theology
– Early career pay: $40,000
– Mid-career pay: $57,500
All jobs depend on having clients, and this includes religious jobs. Bible studies and theology professionals face challenging headwinds in the United States in this respect. Fewer Americans than ever report themselves as religious.
#44. Forensic accounting
– Early career pay: $48,300
– Mid-career pay: $57,200
#43. Communication sciences and disorders
– Early career pay: $43,300
– Mid-career pay: $57,100
Communications sciences and disorders specialists address an array of issues that technology may be rendered less reliant on therapy. For example, cochlear implants for deaf children and babies can now be purchased for as low as $530 with insurance, reducing the need for hearing therapy, as a greater number of patients can hear via the technology.
#42. Legal assistant studies
– Early career pay: $38,100
– Mid-career pay: $57,100
Legal assistants may hope to become lawyers, who typically earn significantly higher salaries. However, without a law degree, legal assistants are only legally allowed to perform certain tasks, which caps the value of their services.
#41. Special education
– Early career pay: $41,300
– Mid-career pay: $57,000
There are several special education career paths to take after majoring in the subject, aside from teaching. The prospect of becoming a residential manager, preschool director, or direct support professional is why some choose the undergraduate major, then get their master’s degree. Working with the disabled is in high demand due to teachers retiring and more students needing help.
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#40. Conservation biology
– Early career pay: $42,800
– Mid-career pay: $56,900
Conservation biologists play a critical role in preserving species and ecosystems. Many important roles in the field offer low or no pay, making it nearly impossible for people to perform this work, pay off their student debt, and sustain themselves. As people abandon the field for different work, the world suffers a collective loss.
#39. Family studies
– Early career pay: $39,200
– Mid-career pay: $56,800
Family studies professionals help tutor, develop, and supervise children. Some competition they face in commanding high salaries? Teenage babysitters, whom parents may feel more comfortable paying lower wages.
#38. Speech and hearing
– Early career pay: $43,300
– Mid-career pay: $56,400
Speech and hearing professionals’ salaries suffer from improved technology. Hearing aids have become increasingly sophisticated, reducing the need for much administrative assistance after purchase.
#37. Christian ministry
– Early career pay: $38,100
– Mid-career pay: $56,400
#36. Health and human services
– Early career pay: $43,500
– Mid-career pay: $56,300
Health and human services encompass a vast array of jobs. On the higher end of the pay scale, these include jobs such as public health directors. But many other jobs included in health and human services typically have lower pay rates, such as social workers and correctional treatment specialists.
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#35. Musical theater
– Early career pay: $43,500
– Mid-career pay: $56,100
Although a musical theater degree will provide you with the foundations for success on Broadway, that pathway is highly competitive. The good news is that there are many theater-adjacent roles in the areas of performance, production, business, education, and mental health into which this degree can segue.
#34. History teacher education
– Early career pay: $47,700
– Mid-career pay: $55,600
Majoring in history teacher education likely means most graduates will teach the subject in elementary, secondary, or postsecondary schools. Being a history teacher, like other instruction degrees, requires those who major in the subject to become state-certified after student teaching. History teachers may work with special education teachers to make learning more accessible for students with learning difficulties and can work with debate teams, for example, because of their knowledge of current events.
#33. Developmental psychology
– Early career pay: $38,200
– Mid-career pay: $55,000
Developmental psychologists study how people change over the course of their lifetime, from a variety of perspectives including biologically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Advanced degrees, licensure, internships, and certifications can mean the accrual of significant debt before someone can even begin working and practicing in the field.
#32. Therapeutic recreation
– Early career pay: $39,500
– Mid-career pay: $54,900
Therapeutic recreation specialists work with patients to improve the minds, bodies, and spirits of those with disease or disabilities. This demographic may be less likely to have resources to pay therapists significant sums, which may play a role in driving down salaries.
#31. Community and human services
– Early career pay: $42,400
– Mid-career pay: $54,600
Community and human services workers endeavor to improve the lives of their communities and the individuals who work in them. And even though salaries are not as high as those from other majors, the BLS has noted that job growth in this field is projected to remain high in the next decade.
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#30. Applied behavioral science
– Early career pay: $40,500
– Mid-career pay: $54,600
Applied behavioral science is essentially the study of why people behave in certain ways. If it sounds broad, that’s because it is. Graduates often pursue career opportunities in the fields of human resources, human services, and consumer science, among others.
#29. Social work
– Early career pay: $38,600
– Mid-career pay: $54,600
Although social work jobs may not have the highest starting salaries, job prospects for social workers are actually quite positive. As health care spending continues to increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work jobs in clinical settings, in particular, will continue to enjoy a rise in demand for workers.
#28. Office administration
– Early career pay: $38,700
– Mid-career pay: $54,500
Graduating with a major in office administration opens doors to many career paths, including medical office manager, staff specialist, executive assistant, management secretary, and purchasing consultant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics details other career opportunities that do not require a degree but have comparable and higher annual salaries for those who major in the field. Among those occupations are police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, who make $40,660 annually, and administrative assistants, who annually make $38,880.
#27. Family and community services
– Early career pay: $42,200
– Mid-career pay: $54,300
Family and community services careers often involve helping people with little capital or power, including the impoverished and disabled citizens accessing social services. Because these services are offered free of charge, there is a limited capital base with which to reward workers.
#26. Ministry
– Early career pay: $36,700
– Mid-career pay: $54,300
To be a minister is to be a lifelong student of the Bible and a leader in the Catholic Church. Some students may pursue seminary school upon completion of a ministry degree or may pursue a specialization like working with youth. But church membership is falling as the number of Americans with no religious affiliation continues to rise.
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#25. Youth ministry
– Early career pay: $37,400
– Mid-career pay: $54,200
Youth ministers work with children and teens to coordinate related activities at a church or religious organization. Churches typically operate as nonprofits, and therefore the salaries of their workers, including youth ministers, lack the ability to respond to the market and offer higher salaries.
#24. Elementary education
– Early career pay: $40,000
– Mid-career pay: $53,800
Majoring in elementary education means teaching and instructing young students. Majors in the program must choose a specific subject to study, including either math, history, science, or English. Some who major in the subject consider careers as guidance counselors, juvenile correction officers, long-term substitute teachers, online instructors, preschool teachers, or adjunct professors.
#23. Voice and opera
– Early career pay: $34,500
– Mid-career pay: $53,300
Voice and opera students preparing to perform on a professional level after graduation must learn theatrical techniques and stage repertory through courses such as diction, foreign languages, music theory, and humanities. While receiving private instruction during the undergraduate curriculum, students also perform in choral ensembles. Students who choose not to sing opera after studying the major can easily transition into other careers, including teaching art, drama, or music, or becoming a musical director or composer.
#22. Conflict resolution
– Early career pay: $44,400
– Mid-career pay: $53,200
Whether it’s on an international scale or between two individuals, where there is conflict, there is a need for conflict resolution. Conflict resolution specialists and mediators often require advanced degrees and many years of experience to be established in the field.
#21. Christian ministry
– Early career pay: $38,700
– Mid-career pay: $53,200
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#20. Human services management
– Early career pay: $45,600
– Mid-career pay: $53,000
Human services management jobs are a specific role for those interested in helping or managing others in social work or related fields. Although the average salary is not extremely high, these positions pay more than nonsupervisory roles in the same field. Many of these roles require additional licensing.
#19. Baking and pastry arts
– Early career pay: $37,500
– Mid-career pay: $53,000
These days, it seems that everyone is a food blogger. And this means that more people than ever are likely to be trying their hands at baking and pastry-making at home, reducing the need for specialized bakers.
#18. Hospitality and culinary arts
– Early career pay: $38,800
– Mid-career pay: $52,900
Some career choices for holders of a hospitality and culinary arts degree include restaurant manager, food and beverage director, chef, caterer, and banquet manager, among others. But the hospitality industry, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing a reckoning. The industry is notoriously understaffed, underpaid, and undervalued.
#17. Human services
– Early career pay: $38,700
– Mid-career pay: $52,500
Although careers in human services vary widely, their common denominator is that they help people who would likely be unable to help themselves. As such, these jobs, which range from family court advocates to crisis support workers, service overall a population with limited resources who may not be able to compensate them highly.
#16. Counseling
– Early career pay: $39,900
– Mid-career pay: $51,700
Similar to therapists, those who specialize in counseling suffer in part from competition. Wages are lower than they might otherwise be because of the sheer number of people offering counseling services.
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#15. Recreational therapy
– Early career pay: $38,400
– Mid-career pay: $51,600
Recreational therapists help many Americans, especially older adults, deal with disabilities, injuries, and illnesses—typically via arts and crafts, aquatics, games, and other activities. Although the pay is not high, these professions are projected to increase in demand, as an aging generation of Americans looks to the future.
#14. Child development
– Early career pay: $37,400
– Mid-career pay: $51,400
Child care workers have an average hourly wage of just $10.31. Some advocacy groups and politicians have advocated paying a higher wage to these groups to meet growing demands for a $15 minimum wage these groups are demanding.
#13. Educational psychology
– Early career pay: $36,900
– Mid-career pay: $51,200
Educational psychologists study how people learn which can inform various teaching methods, classroom strategies, and ideally improve academic outcomes. But as many schools struggle with shrinking budgets, professionals in this field are either unaffordable or underpaid, and very often are expected to work beyond a reasonable capacity.
#12. Middle school education
– Early career pay: $41,200
– Mid-career pay: $50,800
After majoring in middle school education, graduates go on to teach students in grades five through nine. Teaching that specific age group entails taking undergraduate courses in a breadth of subjects, including English, science, mathematics, and social studies. Washington University in St. Louis suggests those majoring in middle school education consider adding a concentrated study in their curriculum, since middle schools are interdisciplinary and teachers who have expertise in more than one content field may have an advantage in the job market.
#11. Mental health counseling
– Early career pay: $36,100
– Mid-career pay: $50,000
Becoming a licensed mental health counselor requires time, study, and practice—years of it. Professionals can focus on working with specific populations, like children, military veterans, or people with addiction. And there is no shortage of need for these services. More than 15 million people in the U.S. live in mental health care health professional shortage areas.
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#10. Early childhood and elementary education
– Early career pay: $38,000
– Mid-career pay: $48,400
Students who major in early childhood and elementary education prepare to teach in both preschool and after-school programs, as well as kindergarten through sixth grade. Graduates must become certified to instruct students in whatever state they choose for work. With further schooling, some graduates of the major go on to become administrators, such as principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, and college deans.
#9. Equine studies
– Early career pay: $35,700
– Mid-career pay: $47,100
An equine studies major prepares you for just about any career pertaining to horse training, breeding, or showing. While the equine world is often equated with wealth, workers in this field are among the lowest paid on this list. For those working with horses competing in major races and events, the purse earnings divided amongst winning team members can be very lucrative.
#8. Addiction studies
– Early career pay: $38,000
– Mid-career pay: $47,000
Addiction studies majors can typically expect to work as addiction counselors or drug or alcohol treatment specialists. There is a large pay range for those who work in the field, with salaries dependent largely on level of education attained, geographic location, and the type of setting in which treatment is performed.
#7. Child and family studies
– Early career pay: $36,400
– Mid-career pay: $46,500
Child care is one of the lowest-paying professions in the United States. One reason may be that many teenagers and other younger adults will work as babysitters and tutors to make side money, which makes it more difficult for professionals to demand higher wages.
#6. Rehabilitation counseling
– Early career pay: $39,200
– Mid-career pay: $46,400
Rehabilitation counselors typically work to serve people living with disabilities. These services can range from mental health to physical health to practical life-skills training and can be performed everywhere from detention centers to unemployment offices. Recipients typically do not pay for such services, and as such, the salaries of rehabilitation counselors are limited.
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#5. Outdoor education
– Early career pay: $37,400
– Mid-career pay: $46,300
Outdoor education professionals help people enjoy the great outdoors. However perfect they may be for the outdoors enthusiast, some of these jobs are run by the government, which means they are capped within a certain pay bracket.
#4. Early childhood education
– Early career pay: $36,100
– Mid-career pay: $45,400
A child’s cognitive, emotional, and language development occur in the first five years of life, making early childhood education critical in an adolescent’s academic career. However, it is one of the lowest-paying majors on the list, further proving that those who enter the field are likely more concerned about the community than salary.
#3. Mental health
– Early career pay: $36,900
– Mid-career pay: $45,000
Mental health is a field that encompasses many different settings. Some mental health specialists may work in assisted living facilities, helping residents with dementia, while others may work with working professionals stressed and depressed about their jobs. Those working in private practice theoretically have no caps to their salaries, while those working in institutions may be more constrained by salary caps.
#2. Medical assisting
– Early career pay: $36,000
– Mid-career pay: $44,800
One issue that may be keeping medical assisting wages low is an oversupply. Some argue that too many qualified medical assistants are currently searching for work, keeping salaries low.
#1. Metalsmithing
– Early career pay: $40,000
– Mid-career pay: $40,300
Many workers with degrees in metalsmithing find work as jewelers. Those working in the retail trade tend to make the most.
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