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Postsecondary Education Value - Median Income vs. Unemployment

This chart shows the median income for the population 25 years and older by educational attainment and the unemployment rate by educational attainment for July of the corresponding year.

Chart plotting the unemployment data contained in the table on this page.  Chart plotting the median income data contained in the table on this page.

Select a year in the table below to see a side-by-side comparison for all education levels.
Or, select an education level to see a graph showing just that level.

Year Statewide Average Graduate / Professional Degree Baccalaureate Degree Some College / Associate Degree High School Graduate Less Than High School Graduate
Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income Unemployment Rate Median Annual Income
2004 6.7% $ 33,266 3.2% $ 65,728 4.3% $ 48,507 5.4% $ 35,004 8.2% $ 26,541 12.4% $ 17,255
2005 5.7% $ 35,164 2.6% $ 67,740 3.2% $ 50,388 5.4% $ 35,861 6.7% $ 27,217 10.0% $ 18,163
2006 5.1% $ 35,297 2.4% $ 71,060 3.0% $ 50,941 4.3% $ 36,015 6.0% $ 27,461 9.5% $ 18,487
2007 5.0% $ 36,384 2.4% $ 71,938 2.9% $ 52,370 4.1% $ 36,958 5.8% $ 29,199 9.6% $ 19,173
2008 6.2% $ 36,855 2.4% $ 74,664 3.3% $ 52,111 5.5% $ 37,134 7.9% $ 29,473 11.4% $ 20,109
2009 9.8% $ 35,366 3.8% $ 73,078 6.1% $ 51,938 8.8% $ 35,643 12.2% $ 26,950 17.3% $ 18,451

Other Median Income and Unemployment Data
50 State Comparison
California County Comparison

Source of Unemployment Data: Special data request from California Employment Development Department Labor Market Information  http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/.

Source of Median Income Data: U.S. Census Bureau American FactFinder  http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml.
Note: Data from non-census years are estimates based on surveys.
Please see the U. S. Census Bureau website for more detailed information.

 

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