Teacher Education, Specific Subject Areas at University of North Carolina at Pembroke
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 13.13
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Teacher Education, Specific Subject Areas degree from University of North Carolina at Pembroke earn a median salary of $49,611 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $50,727. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.6 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$45,203
Typical Career
$49,611
Top Performers
$55,035
Estimated break-even: 11.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$331
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,134. Most students can comfortably afford about a $331 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 North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$50,727
Nominal: $49,611 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% 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 | $38,349 | $44,455 | $49,160 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $45,203 | $49,611 | $55,035 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,688 | $59,013 | $67,877 |
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 $49,611 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,611 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $50,727 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter include Educational Services (30.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (21.3%), and Public Administration (12.7%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 11.6 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree is reasonable, particularly for those committed to careers in education and related fields. Overall, while the financial rewards may take time to fully realize, the program offers a stable and relevant career path in essential sectors.
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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.