Gerontology Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Gerontology major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Sciences, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Sciences, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$87,100

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$125,648

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$154,067

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 2.1%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$2,929,972

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
SOC: 19-1042
Occupation: Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
$100,590
156,300
N/A
N/A
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC: 19-3099
Occupation: Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$100,340
36,970
N/A
N/A
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1071
Occupation: Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
$105,620
229,720
N/A
N/A
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1113
Occupation: Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,210
13,350
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

9.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$100,590156,300
2023$100,890136,620
2022$99,930110,550
2021$95,310108,550
2020$91,510126,110

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other

15.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$100,34036,970
2023$95,89035,210
2022$88,90033,210
2021$84,43034,330
2020$87,26034,570

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

6.6%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$105,620229,720
2023$105,650225,360
2022$100,300207,700
2021$102,720191,830
2020$99,090200,040

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

6.5%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$76,21013,350
2023$75,02011,730
2022$66,51012,050
2021$71,01012,280
2020$71,57013,580

Colleges offering Gerontology

University of Wisconsin-Madison

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$15k

Earnings

$64k

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$71k

Johns Hopkins University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$96k

Gwynedd Mercy University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$72k

George Mason University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$19k

Earnings

$65k