by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 13 U.S. colleges awarded 147 degrees and certificates in Labor Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 57% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Labor Studies 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.
Studying Labor Studies involves the study of Labor Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Various Aspects Of Work, Labor Organization And Policy, And Labor Movements From The Perspective Of The Social Sciences And History. Includes Instruction In Labor History; Political And Ideological Issues; Worker Movements And Social Organizations; Civil Rights; Labor Law And Policy Studies; Labor Economics; International And Comparative Labor Studies; And Applications To Specific Industries, Groups, Locations, And Time Periods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, labor studies draws strong interest, with 147 degrees awarded annually. 13 colleges award labor studies degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 46.
By level, the 147 awards include 1 associate degrees, 60 bachelor’s degrees, 84 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of labor studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (97 of 147). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (51) and Hispanic or Latino (45), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Labor Studies Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks labor studies schools within 3 states. In all, 13 colleges offer labor studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Labor Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common labor studies credential is the master’s degree: 84 of the 147 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to labor studies call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Personnel and Human Resources, English Language and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a labor studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 60 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 84 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to labor studies, at 53.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.7% |
| First professional degree | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Labor Studies, with an average median salary of $101,955; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Industrial Relations Manager, HR Manager (Human Resources Manager), Placement Director and Diversity Manager.
The occupation related to labor studies with the most projected jobs is Human Resources Managers, at 404,262.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 215,473 | 2.5% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Labor Studies 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 studies is Labor Relations Specialists, with a median salary of $129,587.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | $129,587 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
Labor Studies has 6 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 27,675 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 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations | 1,407 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 920 |
| Executive/Career Coaching | 93 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
