Read the chart from "Career Planning for High Schoolers."
| Major category | 2014 average starting salary |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Overall | $48,707 |
| Engineering | $62,891 |
| Computer science | $62,103 |
| Business | $57,229 |
| Communications | $48,253 |
| Math and sciences | $44,299 |
| Education | $40,267 |
| Humanities and social sciences | $38,049 |
Which conclusion is best supported by the information in this chart?
A. Majors in social sciences lead to above-average starting salaries.
B. Majors in education lead to above-average starting salaries.
C. Majors in humanities lead to above-average starting salaries.
D. Majors in engineering and tech lead to above-average starting salaries.
Answer (1)
Compare the average starting salary for each major with the overall average.
Social sciences, education, and humanities have below-average starting salaries.
Engineering and computer science have above-average starting salaries.
Therefore, majors in engineering and tech lead to above-average starting salaries. $\boxed{Majors in engineering and tech lead to aboveaverage starting salaries.}
Explanation
Analyzing the Problem We are given a table of average starting salaries for different major categories and need to determine which conclusion is best supported by the information. The overall average starting salary is $48,707. We will compare the average starting salary for each major category with the overall average to see which majors lead to above-average salaries.
Comparing Salaries Let's examine each option:
Social sciences: The average starting salary is $38,049, which is less than the overall average of $48,707.
Education: The average starting salary is $40,267, which is less than the overall average of $48,707.
Humanities: The average starting salary is $38,049, which is less than the overall average of $48,707.
Engineering: The average starting salary is $62,891, which is greater than the overall average of $48,707.
Computer science: The average starting salary is $62,103, which is greater than the overall average of $48,707.
Determining the Best Supported Conclusion From the comparisons above, we can see that engineering and computer science majors have above-average starting salaries. Therefore, the conclusion that majors in engineering and tech lead to above-average starting salaries is best supported by the information in the chart.
Examples
Understanding average starting salaries for different majors can help students make informed decisions about their education and career paths. For example, if a student is passionate about both engineering and humanities but is also concerned about earning potential, this data can help them weigh the financial implications of each choice. They might also consider how further education, like a master's degree, could impact their earning potential in either field. This type of data is also useful for workforce planning and understanding the economic value of different fields of study.
