Philosophy majors and minors thrive in a wide variety of professional fields including business, civil service, computer and information science, education, law, and medicine.

Shopworn jokes about unemployed and unemployable philosophy majors might be funny, and even some presidential candidates have tried to get in on the fun. But the joke is on them. Philosophy majors earn more on average than majors in any other area of the humanities (like English, history, and religious studies) after 5-10 years of work experience and have a median annual income level of almost $100,000 after 20 years of experience. Philosophy majors also have higher average earnings than people who majored in biology, communication, criminology, psychology, and sociology, as well as comparable average earning to those who majored in chemistry, management, marketing, political science, and public relations. Of course, philosophy offers much more than the prospects of future professional success! But potential philosophy majors should know that they don't have to sacrifice educational quality for future earning power. 

Want to know more? You're in luck! Here are some sources for further reflection: 

• Be Employable, Study Philosophy

• Students Opt for the Life Examined

• I Think, Therefore I Earn

• How to Get a Job with a Philosophy Degree

• A Philosophy Degree and Med School? 

• Harvard Med School Professor and the Value of Philosophy

• The Management Myth

• Major in What You Love

• WSJ Salaries by Major

• What Philosophers Make

• Philosophy Majors Changing the World of Business

• Carrying a Welding Torch for Philosophy

• What is the Value of a Humanities Education?

• Philosophy Majors and Scores on the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT