Human Development Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Human Development 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 Social Work, 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 Social Work, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$27,436

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$43,379

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$58,298

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 5.9%

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

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$1,097,440

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
Psychologists, All Other
SOC: 19-3039
Occupation: Psychologists, All Other
$117,580
17,790
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
Social and Human Service Assistants
SOC: 21-1093
Occupation: Social and Human Service Assistants
$45,120
424,220
N/A
N/A
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
SOC: 21-1099
Occupation: Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$54,940
110,390
N/A
N/A
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1192
Occupation: Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,280
2,630
N/A
N/A
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
SOC: 25-2011
Occupation: Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$37,120
445,080
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

Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

7.0%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$77,2802,630
2023$78,4102,660
2022$76,4402,420
2021$79,6302,730
2020$72,2202,270

Childcare Workers

25.9%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$32,050520,180
2023$30,370497,450
2022$28,520459,460
2021$27,490438,520
2020$25,460494,360

Colleges offering Human Development

University of Connecticut

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$66k

Northwestern University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$24k

Earnings

$84k

University of Maryland-College Park

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$16k

Earnings

$69k

Fairfield University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$48k

Earnings

$77k

Cornell University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$27k

Earnings

$91k