Definition
The distribution of earnings for individuals aged 25+ categorized by their highest level of educational attainment (e.g., less than high school, high school graduate, Bachelor's degree or higher) during a defined period.
Why It Matters
Directly illustrates the strong correlation between education and earning power. It quantifies the economic returns to different levels of education, highlighting the value of educational investment for individual prosperity.
Specific Relevance for Professionals:
Marketers
Enables highly targeted marketing based on both educational background and associated earning potential. For instance, promoting premium financial products to highly educated, high-earning segments or vocational training to increase earning potential for those with less education.
Researchers
Fundamental for studying the economic returns to education, earning disparities related to educational attainment, and the impact of educational policies on economic mobility.
Consultants
Crucial for workforce planning, advising clients on talent acquisition for roles requiring specific educational backgrounds, and assessing the economic profile of a regional labor force based on earning potential by education.
Public Policy Workers
Paramount for informing education funding policies, financial aid programs, and strategies to improve economic outcomes through educational investments. It helps identify segments where educational attainment is not translating into expected earnings, prompting policy review.
