Special Report
Cities Where a College Education Pays Off the Most
May 13, 2022 8:00 am
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25. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Earnings premium for bachelor’s degree holders: +$21,263
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $60,823
> Median earnings for high school graduates: $31,455
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 35.4%
> Most concentrated job requiring bachelor’s degree: Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (10.7 times the national employment share)
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24. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
> Earnings premium for bachelor’s degree holders: +$21,295
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $62,946
> Median earnings for high school graduates: $33,266
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.3%
> Most concentrated job requiring bachelor’s degree: Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents (9.9 times the national employment share)
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23. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
> Earnings premium for bachelor’s degree holders: +$21,349
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $62,554
> Median earnings for high school graduates: $34,530
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 38.7%
> Most concentrated job requiring bachelor’s degree: Biochemists and Biophysicists (3.7 times the national employment share)
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22. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Earnings premium for bachelor’s degree holders: +$21,767
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $65,810
> Median earnings for high school graduates: $32,913
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 43.5%
> Most concentrated job requiring bachelor’s degree: Natural Sciences Managers (14.9 times the national employment share)
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21. Modesto, CA
> Earnings premium for bachelor’s degree holders: +$21,772
> Median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders: $62,220
> Median earnings for high school graduates: $33,397
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 17.7%
> Most concentrated job requiring bachelor’s degree: Food Scientists and Technologists (5.2 times the national employment share)
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