Religious Studies degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in religious studies earn a median $47,121 four years after finishing, across 43 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in philosophy and religious studies earn $55,860, $6,189 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is other managers (4%).
Median across 43 colleges; middle half $29,579–$53,789.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $34,947–$84,266. 2,005 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Philosophy And Religious Studies"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$20,222/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs religious studies graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in philosophy and religious studies 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 | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Software Developers | 3% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 2% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Clergy | 2% | $60,810 | +2.4% | Bachelor's degree | SE |
| Human Resources Workers | 2% | $76,700 | +6.1% | — | — |
| Paralegals And Legal Assistants | 2% | $62,890 | -0.3% | Associate's degree | CIE |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Retail Salespersons | 2% | $35,410 | -0.3% | No formal educational credential | EC |
These 8 jobs account for 19% 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).
Religious Studies 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 | $47,121 (5) | $75,765 (277) |
| New York | $20,986 (14) | $60,915 (205) |
| North Carolina | $52,012 (3) | — |
| Texas | — | $65,628 (110) |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where religious studies graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 17 in Florida, 26 in Virginia, 48 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-DavisCA | $59,448 | — |
| 2 | University of VirginiaVA | $58,324 | $18,267 |
| 3 | California State University-NorthridgeCA | $51,235 | $13,483 |
| 4 | Liberty UniversityVA | $47,991 | $36,495 |
| 5 | Saint Leo UniversityFL | $47,791 | $39,471 |
| 6 | California Baptist UniversityCA | $47,121 | $24,474 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA | $43,377 | $15,873 |
| 8 | Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryCA | $38,872 | — |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Religious Studies degree questions
How much do Religious Studies graduates make?
Religious Studies graduates earn a median $47,121 four years after finishing, across 43 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $29,579 to $53,789; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in philosophy and religious studies, the median is $55,860 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Religious Studies degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in philosophy and religious studies earn a median $55,860: $6,189 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $20,222 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Religious Studies graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in philosophy and religious studies, the most common jobs are other managers (4%), software developers (3%), elementary and middle school teachers (2%).
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
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Religious Studies degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/religious-studies.