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Field of degree: Public policy and social services

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Table 1. Public policy and social services degree, 2023
Data	Public policy and social services	All fields
Employment	994,200	63,725,710
Median wage	55,000	70,000
Percent employed part time	17	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	63	62
Percent with an advanced degree	49	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of public policy and social services, 2023
Public policy and social services majors	Major share
Social Work	64%
Human Services And Community Organization	16
Public Administration	10
Public Policy	9
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a public policy and social services degree, by occupational group, 2023
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Community and social service occupations	29%
Management occupations	16
Educational instruction and library occupations	9
Office and administrative support occupations	9
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	8
Other	30
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a public policy and social services degree
Occupation	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2023	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2023	Percent growth, projected 2024–34	Typical entry-level education
Social workers, all other	16%	46%	4%	Bachelor's degree
Managers, all other	4	21	4	Bachelor's degree
Social and community service managers	3	32	6	Bachelor's degree
Elementary school teachers, except special education	3	49	-2	Bachelor's degree
Therapists, all other	3	66	11	Bachelor's degree
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	2	70	17	Master's degree
Registered nurses	2	14	5	Bachelor's degree
Medical and health services managers	2	31	23	Bachelor's degree
Lawyers	2	91	4	Doctoral or professional degree
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	2	59	4	Master's degree
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Public policy and social services,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/public-policy-and-social-services/public-policy-and-social-services-field-of-degree.htm (visited August 28, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025