Discipline and Gender: Factors Affecting Graduates’ Salaries

Abstract

In light of the increased accessibility of higher education, a growing number of students hope to use their studies as a financial springboard. In the current study, we sought to examine whether and to what degree baccalaureate degrees improve graduates' financial situation. In cooperation with Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics we gathered data on 6,091 graduates who completed their studies at the Ariel University Center during -2008 show that graduates earn almost three times the national average salary (and five times the median salary) and indicate employment rates of nearly 100%. The most profitable fields are computer sciences and mathematics, engineering, and architecture. Salaries in the natural and social sciences and in the humanities are significantly lower both compared to the former fields and to the national average salary, at least for this eight year span. The rate of employment among men is 12% higher than among women and these disparities are found in all disciplines.Research conclusions show that academic degrees per se do not guarantee financial or occupational security. The equation of higher education with a higher income seems to involve other components as well, such as graduates' field of study, job seniority, and field of occupation.