Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods at Dalton State College
GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 13.12
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree from Dalton State College earn a median salary of $49,426 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $54,614. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.9 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$43,269
Typical Career
$49,426
Top Performers
$55,960
Estimated break-even: 11.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$330
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,119. Most students can comfortably afford about a $330 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$54,614
Nominal: $49,426 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $30,912 | $40,841 | $46,742 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $43,269 | $49,426 | $55,960 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,589 | $59,809 | $67,449 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $49,426 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,426 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $54,614 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that Dalton State graduates enter include Educational Services (28.4%), Health Care & Social Assistance (19.2%), and Manufacturing (14.0%). This distribution suggests a strong alignment with sectors that prioritize education and community services. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 11.9 years, indicating a significant return on investment for those who pursue a degree in this field. Overall, while the initial earnings may require patience, the long-term benefits and industry demand present a compelling case for pursuing a career in education.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree at Dalton State College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.