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Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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Field of degree: Public policy and social services
Table 1. Public policy and social services degree, 2019
Data |
Public policy and social services |
All fields |
Employment
|
891,290 |
56,820,460 |
Median wage
|
47,000 |
60,000 |
Percent employed part time
|
17 |
15 |
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree
|
63 |
60 |
Percent with an advanced degree
|
48 |
37 |
Chart 1. Types of public policy and social services majors, 2019
Public policy and social services majors |
Major share |
Social Work
|
65% |
Human Services And Community Organization
|
17 |
Public Administration
|
11 |
Public Policy
|
7 |
Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a public policy and social services degree, by occupational group, 2019
Occupational group |
Occupational group share |
Community and social service occupations
|
32% |
Management occupations
|
15 |
Office and administrative support occupations
|
9 |
Educational instruction and library occupations
|
9 |
Business and financial operations occupations
|
7 |
Other
|
29 |
Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a public policy and social services degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile |
Percent growth, projected 2021–31 |
Typical entry-level education |
Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019 |
Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019 |
Medical and health services managers
|
28% |
Bachelor's degree |
2% |
32% |
Social and community service managers
|
12 |
Bachelor's degree |
3 |
33 |
Social and human service assistants
|
12 |
High school diploma or equivalent |
2 |
13 |
Therapists, all other
|
11 |
Bachelor's degree |
2 |
59 |
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
|
10 |
Master's degree |
2 |
60 |
Lawyers
|
10 |
Doctoral or professional degree |
2 |
92 |
Managers, all other
|
6 |
Bachelor's degree |
3 |
20 |
Elementary school teachers, except special education
|
4 |
Bachelor's degree |
3 |
48 |
Social workers, all other
|
3 |
Bachelor's degree |
20 |
40 |
Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
|
-10 |
High school diploma or equivalent |
1 |
4 |
Last Modified Date:
Thursday, September 8, 2022