Human Development graduates earn $48,568 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,149 and $62,704. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Human Development as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Family & Consumer Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Human Development is a focused area of study within Family & Consumer Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $48,568 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 1,057 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 40,263 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$33,654
Median Earnings · 4yr
$48,568
Colleges Offering
1,057
Graduates / Year
40,263
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,016
How Much Do Human Development Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Human Development, a typical graduate earns $48,568, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $35,149 and $62,704, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $33,654 at one year out to $48,568 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$48,568
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$46,966
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Human Development graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$35,14925th pct.
$48,568Median
$62,70475th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $48,568 and an estimated $56,064 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.0 years.
Based on outcomes from 335 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 40,263 students who complete Human Development programs each year, the majority (43%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
33%43%
Bachelor's43%
Associate's33%
Certificate15%
What Can You Do With a Human Development Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Human Development graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Farm and Home Management Educators pay the most at $60,220/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
High school diploma or equivalent48,900 openings/yr438K employed nationally
Social PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingService OrientationReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Top Colleges for Human Development
Not sure where to study Human Development? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Human Development graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Human Development is not the only path through Family & Consumer Sciences: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Human Development program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Human Development carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 4 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $33,654 at graduation to $48,568 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +7.4% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 116,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 1,057 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $48,568 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($35,149) and 75th ($62,704) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Human Development Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Human Development graduates earn?
$48,568 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $35,149 and $62,704, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Human Development degree?
$33,654 in the first year out. That grows to $48,568 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Human Development degree?
Farm and Home Management Educators are one path, and it pays a median of $60,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Human Development program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Human Development bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Human Development?
1,057 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Human Development degree worth it?
$48,568 median earnings four years out against $14,016 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Human Development and Family & Consumer Sciences?
Human Development is the narrower of the two: Family & Consumer Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Human Development-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Human Development graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Human Development graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Human Development graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.9% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Social and Human Service Assistants are among the strongest-growth roles at +7.4%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
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