What Degree Has the Lowest Salary? Breaking Down Your Options

Ready to find out which college degree can leave you with the smallest paycheck? This question has a sobering answer, and it's something every student (and parent) should think about before filling out that college application. Degrees aren’t all created equal when it comes to your future salary, and the difference between the top and bottom earners is wider than you might think.

A quick look at the numbers shows that degrees in fields like performing arts, social work, and early childhood education consistently land at the bottom of the pay scale. The average starting pay for these majors often hovers just above minimum wage, sometimes under $35,000 a year. If you’re racking up student loan debt for a four-year program, you really want to know this stuff before you enroll.

But here's the thing—just because a field pays less, doesn’t mean you have to avoid it if you truly love it. The trick is having a game plan: maybe that’s a side hustle, upskilling, or picking a school with low tuition to keep debt manageable. Knowing the numbers gives you power to make smart choices, not panic.

• Degrees With the Lowest Starting Salaries
• Why Some Degrees Pay Less Than Others
• How to Make the Most of a Low-Salary Major
• Tips for Choosing a Degree With Better Earning Potential

Degrees With the Lowest Starting Salaries

Let’s get real—some degrees pretty much guarantee a tight budget in your first years out of college. If you’re chasing a paycheck, you’ll want to know which majors are stuck at the bottom when it comes to lowest salary degree rankings.

Here are a few degrees that consistently lead to some of the lowest starting paychecks, based on real numbers from recent national grad surveys:

• Early Childhood Education: Teaching little kids is rewarding, but fresh grads in this field often start around $33,000 a year. The pay barely creeps up unless you move into administration or get more credentials.
• Social Work: Most entry-level social workers earn between $33,000 and $38,000 right out of school. Even with a passion for helping others, it can be tough to pay off loans on that salary.
• Performing Arts: Actors, dancers, and musicians usually land near the bottom, usually around $28,000 to $36,000 in the first year after graduation—when they can find steady gigs at all.
• Religious Studies: Many grads end up working for nonprofits or in religious settings where annual incomes rarely top $35,000 in those early years.
• Fine Arts: Jobs are competitive and the average starting pay is about $34,000. Lots of artists work part-time gigs to get by.

Check out the actual numbers pulled from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2024:

If you look at the data, low paying majors generally have two things in common: they’re tied to public service or creative fields, or they depend on gigs and contracts, which means income isn’t always steady or guaranteed. While you can definitely succeed financially in these paths, it usually takes extra hustle, networking, and maybe a second income stream.

Why Some Degrees Pay Less Than Others

It’s not just random chance that some degrees end up with the lowest salary. There are actually some clear reasons driving those numbers down. A big one is market demand. If there are lots of people chasing the same kind of job but only a few open positions, employers just don’t have to offer high pay to get applicants. Low paying majors like fine arts and social work fall into this category—they’re popular, but there’s not a huge hiring frenzy.

Another factor is the value employers place on certain skills. Some careers, like engineering or computer science, require technical expertise that’s harder to find. So they pay more. But for jobs in performing arts, early childhood education, and social work, pay is often lower because there’s a bigger supply of job seekers and the skills aren’t as rare or highly prized in the market.

These fields also tend to rely on public funding or non-profit organizations, which have tight budgets. Take social workers or preschool teachers—they often work for government agencies or small nonprofits that just can’t pay the big bucks, even if the work is important. Compare that to business or healthcare, where profit and specialized training drive salaries up.

Here's another thing: Some jobs have a lower cap on how high salaries can climb, even after years of experience. Teachers or artists don’t see the same dramatic pay jumps over time as folks in tech or finance. So, these differences stick with you throughout your career. If you’re looking at a lowest salary degree, it’s smarter to face the facts now and plan how you’ll handle it—whether that means budgeting for a simpler lifestyle or picking up different certifications later on.

How to Make the Most of a Low-Salary Major

Finding yourself in a field with one of the lowest salary degree options doesn't mean you're stuck living paycheck to paycheck. There are ways to boost your income, protect your budget, and actually thrive doing what you love.

Let’s talk strategy. For starters, location can make a big difference. Teachers and social workers, for example, can earn thousands more a year just by moving to a higher-paying state or urban area. According to recent government data, teachers in New York earn about $19,000 more on average than those in Oklahoma.

Don’t forget about stacking skills. Picking up a minor or certificate—something like digital marketing, coding, or even project management—can put you ahead of the crowd. This kind of combination helps set you apart in crowded fields like education or social work, where just having a degree isn’t always enough.

• Start networking early. Meeting the right people can open doors for grants, job leads, or gigs that pay more than the average.
• Consider side hustles. A lot of people in the arts or education take on freelance work, private coaching, or tutoring. Sometimes, one-on-one gigs pay better than day jobs.
• Look into employer programs. Nonprofits, schools, and government jobs sometimes offer help with student loan forgiveness, health benefits, or extra pay for certifications.
• Live below your means. Plan your spending based on a realistic budget from day one. This helps you save up and take on opportunities that fit your dreams, not just your bills.

If you’re dead-set on a low paying major, that’s fine—but think about how you can stand out. Go for internships, build a strong online portfolio, or volunteer for visibility. Most people don’t realize how much networking and side gigs can raise their actual yearly income.

There’s no magic fix, but there’s always a way to hustle smarter. Stack those skills, chase opportunities, and make sure your paycheck isn’t the last word on your future.

Tips for Choosing a Degree With Better Earning Potential

When hunting for a college major, picking one that won’t leave you stressing about bills is a solid move. The trick is keeping your eyes wide open about what pays well and why. It’s not just about chasing money—it's about making sure you set yourself up for options.

Here are some no-nonsense steps to help you pick a degree with better earning potential:

• Check out real salary numbers before you commit. Websites like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, PayScale, and Glassdoor have breakdowns for most jobs. You can filter by state, too, since salaries can swing a lot depending on where you live.
• Lean toward majors with strong job demand in the market. Tech (like computer science or IT), engineering, nursing, and business often top the charts for starting pay. For example, software engineering grads scored an average starting salary of about $85,000 in 2024—that’s more than double what new grads in early childhood education usually get.
• Dig into job placement rates. Some schools list what percent of grads are working in their field within six months. The higher, the better.
• Consider combining a low paying major (like art or sociology) with a minor or certificate that’s in demand, such as digital marketing, data analytics, or coding. It sets you apart and can bump up your paycheck fast.
• Look for colleges with great internship or co-op programs. Real work experience isn’t just resume fluff—it’s often the thing that gets you a foot in the door and a higher first salary.

Here's a quick snapshot of median starting salaries by field—just to give you an idea:

Know what else matters? Flexibility. Tech and healthcare are changing fast, and there’s always room for people who can learn new skills quickly. So, don’t just pick something for cash—think long-term and look for fields where you can keep growing.