The Fifteen College Majors with the Lowest Starting Salaries

Working with kids is one of the most commendable things you can do for a living. So obviously you get paid nothing for it.

PayScale.com just put out a list of the college majors with the lowest starting salaries. Seven of them have to do with kids.

1. Early Childhood Education
   Median starting pay: $29,700
   Median mid-career pay: $38,000
   % change from starting to mid-career: +27.9%
2. Child and Family Studies
   Median starting pay: $31,200
   Median mid-career pay: $38,600
   % change from starting to mid-career: +23.7%
3. Culinary Arts
   Median starting pay: $31,900
   Median mid-career pay: $50,800
   % change from starting to mid-career: +59.2%
4. Child Development
   Median starting pay: $32,200
   Median mid-career pay: $36,400
   % change from starting to mid-career: +13.0%
5. Early Childhood and Elementary Education
   Median starting pay: $32,300
   Median mid-career pay: $40,400
   % change from starting to mid-career: +25.1%
6. Social Work
   Median starting pay: $32,800
   Median mid-career pay: $46,600
   % change from starting to mid-career: +42.1%
7. Music Teacher Education
   Median starting pay: $33,300
   Median mid-career pay: $57,500
   % change from starting to mid-career: +72.7%
8. Elementary Education
   Median starting pay: $33,600
   Median mid-career pay: $45,500
   % change from starting to mid-career: +35.4%
9. Broadcast Communication
   Median starting pay: $33,600
   Median mid-career pay: $61,600
   % change from starting to mid-career: +83.3%
10. Human Services
    Median starting pay: $33,800
    Median mid-career pay: $41,300
    % change from starting to mid-career: +22.2%
11. Culinary Arts and Culinary Management
    Median starting pay: $33,900
    Median mid-career pay: $55,300
    % change from starting to mid-career: +63.1%
12. Exercise Science
    Median starting pay: $34,400
    Median mid-career pay: $53,400
    % change from starting to mid-career: +55.2%
13. Special Education
    Median starting pay: $34,500
    Median mid-career pay: $46,800
    % change from starting to mid-career: +35.7%
14. Therapeutic Recreation
    Median starting pay: $34,500
    Median mid-career pay: $46,900
    % change from starting to mid-career: +35.9%
15. Biblical Studies
    Median starting pay: $34,900
    Median mid-career pay: $48,500
    % change from starting to mid-career: +39.0%