by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 1,407 degrees and certificates in Labor & Industrial Relations. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing, rising to $73,112 after four years.
A major in Labor & Industrial Relations covers Labor And Industrial Relations. A Program That Focuses On Employee-Management Interactions And The Management Of Issues And Disputes Regarding Working Conditions And Worker Benefit Packages, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Labor Or Personnel Relations Specialists. Includes Instruction In Labor History, Policies And Strategies Of The Labor Movement, Union Organization, Labor-Management Negotiation, Labor Law And Contract Interpretation, Labor Economics, Welfare And Benefit Packages, Grievance Procedures, And Labor Policy Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, labor & industrial relations draws strong interest, with 1,407 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award labor & industrial relations degrees, an average of 54 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 316.
By level, the 1,407 awards include 11 certificates, 84 associate degrees, 831 bachelor’s degrees, 472 master’s degrees and 9 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of labor & industrial relations degrees and certificates in the latest year (813 of 1,407). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (686) and Hispanic or Latino (213), and international students earned 119.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks labor & industrial relations schools within 9 states. In all, 26 colleges offer labor & industrial relations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Labor & Industrial Relations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common labor & industrial relations credential is the bachelor’s degree: 831 of the 1,407 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to labor & industrial relations call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a labor & industrial relations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 84 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 831 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 472 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to labor & industrial relations, at 44.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 44.7% |
| First professional degree | 10.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Labor & Industrial Relations, with an average median salary of $88,510; the strongest outlook belongs to Regulatory Affairs Specialists, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Associate Professor, College Professor, Adjunct Instructor and College Faculty Member.
The occupation related to labor & industrial relations with the most projected jobs is Law Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,017,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 373,276 | 14.4% |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | 370,977 | 3.7% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 255,286 | 6.5% |
Labor & Industrial Relations graduates earn a median $57,370 one year after completing their program, $73,112 after four years and $68,120 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,370 |
| 4 years | $73,112 |
| 5 years | $68,120 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to labor & industrial relations is Labor Relations Specialists, with a median salary of $129,587.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | $129,587 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $107,570 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | $85,399 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
Labor & Industrial Relations has 6 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 26,415 degrees a year; the largest are Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General (18,294), Human Resources Development (3,511) and Organizational Behavior Studies (3,450). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 18,294 |
| Human Resources Development | 3,511 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,450 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 920 |
| Labor Studies | 147 |
| Executive/Career Coaching | 93 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
