Workers' median earnings rise with each additional level of education, according to a new report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, bolstering previous research showing degrees tend to pay off in the job market. Those with less than a high school diploma earned an average of $1.2 million during their lifetimes, compared to $2.8 million for workers with bachelor's degrees and $4.7 million for workers with professional degrees. However, substantial variation within each category means some workers with less education can earn more than workers with more education. Typically these differences are due to field of study and occupation.
