Behavioral Sciences degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in behavioral sciences earn a median $47,914 four years after finishing, across 18 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in interdisciplinary social sciences earn $52,547, $9,502 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is social workers, all other (4%).
Median across 18 colleges; middle half $44,719–$51,151.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $35,940–$72,618. 649 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Interdisciplinary Social Sciences"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$16,909/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs behavioral sciences graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in interdisciplinary social sciences actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Workers, All Other | 4% | $71,900 | +2.3% | Bachelor's degree | — |
| Other Managers | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Workers | 3% | $76,700 | +6.1% | — | — |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 3% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Police Officers | 2% | $76,250 | +3.5% | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 2% | $47,540 | -6.0% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Substance Abuse And Behavioral Disorder Counselors | 2% | — | — | — | SI |
These 8 jobs account for 21% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Behavioral Sciences earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $48,267 (4) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where behavioral sciences graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 0 in Florida, 0 in Virginia, 8 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Santa CruzCA | $54,606 | $17,500 |
| 2 | California Baptist UniversityCA | $48,922 | $25,680 |
| 3 | Life Pacific UniversityCA | $47,612 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Concordia University-IrvineCA | $46,098 | $24,583 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Behavioral Sciences degree questions
How much do Behavioral Sciences graduates make?
Behavioral Sciences graduates earn a median $47,914 four years after finishing, across 18 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $44,719 to $51,151; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in interdisciplinary social sciences, the median is $52,547 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Behavioral Sciences degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in interdisciplinary social sciences earn a median $52,547: $9,502 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $16,909 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Behavioral Sciences graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in interdisciplinary social sciences, the most common jobs are social workers, all other (4%), other managers (3%), human resources workers (3%). Social Workers, All Other earn a U.S. median $71,900.
Census field of degree matched to this major by EducationGuide (Behavioral Sciences -> Interdisciplinary Social Sciences).
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
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Cite this: “Behavioral Sciences degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/behavioral-sciences.