International Relations degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in international relations earn a median $66,308 four years after finishing, across 116 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in international relations earn $72,413, $10,364 more than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is other managers (8%).
Median across 116 colleges; middle half $57,783–$73,865.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $44,688–$104,947. 1,461 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "International Relations"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$36,775/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs international relations graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in international relations 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Managers | 8% | — | — | — | — |
| Management Analysts | 4% | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree | CIE |
| Project Management Specialists | 3% | $102,320 | +6.7% | Bachelor's degree | EC |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 3% | $47,540 | -6.0% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Human Resources Workers | 2% | $76,700 | +6.1% | — | — |
| Software Developers | 2% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Market Research Analysts And Marketing Specialists | 2% | $78,760 | +7.0% | Bachelor's degree | ECI |
These 8 jobs account for 26% 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).
International Relations 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 | $65,775 (13) | $86,296 (225) |
| District of Columbia | $76,751 (3) | $80,438 (123) |
| Florida | $64,399 (7) | $52,473 (100) |
| Georgia | $69,101 (6) | — |
| Illinois | $66,705 (4) | — |
| Maryland | $67,983 (3) | — |
| Massachusetts | $74,816 (3) | — |
| Michigan | $61,331 (3) | — |
| New York | $67,531 (9) | $87,985 (144) |
| Ohio | $57,228 (5) | — |
| Pennsylvania | $71,001 (9) | — |
| Texas | $60,446 (4) | — |
| Virginia | $71,436 (9) | $78,204 (141) |
| Washington | $50,238 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where international relations graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 13 in Florida, 20 in Virginia, 30 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 | Claremont McKenna CollegeCA | $96,520 | — |
| 2 | Stanford UniversityCA | $91,075 | — |
| 3 | William & MaryVA | $91,065 | $21,000 |
| 4 | University of Southern CaliforniaCA | $84,866 | $13,765 |
| 5 | University of MiamiFL | $84,474 | $17,250 |
| 6 | University of VirginiaVA | $82,991 | $20,672 |
| 7 | California State University Maritime AcademyCA | $76,478 | $26,000 |
| 8 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL | $75,520 | $22,901 |
| 9 | Virginia Military InstituteVA | $72,700 | $21,500 |
| 10 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA | $71,988 | $21,500 |
| 11 | Liberty UniversityVA | $71,436 | $21,750 |
| 12 | Rollins CollegeFL | $70,502 | $27,000 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
International Relations degree questions
How much do International Relations graduates make?
International Relations graduates earn a median $66,308 four years after finishing, across 116 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $57,783 to $73,865; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in international relations, the median is $72,413 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a International Relations degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in international relations earn a median $72,413: $10,364 more than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $36,775 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do International Relations graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in international relations, the most common jobs are other managers (8%), management analysts (4%), project management specialists (3%).
How much do International Relations graduates earn in Florida?
Across 7 Florida colleges reporting, International Relations graduates earn a median $64,399 four years after graduating; at ages 25-34, Floridians with this field of degree earn $52,473.
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: “International Relations degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/international-relations.