What An Education Is Worth: Lifetime Earnings Statistics

The following data is from the October 2005 issue of Southwest Airlines Spirit. Estimates are from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

1. Someone with less than a 9th grade education will earn $976,350 in their lifetime.
2. A high school dropout’s estimated lifetime earnings are $1,150,698.
3. High school graduates earn $1,455,253 in their lifetimes.
4. A person with a bachelor’s degree earns $2.56 million in their lifetime.