The top 10 worst-paying college majors revealed — with median salaries as low as $40K

Your degree might not pay the bills.

College graduates who studied education, social work or the arts wind up earning the lowest median income within five years post-grad, recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed.

As Fortune reported, the top of the bottom five majors with a low median annual income are anthropology and early childhood education majors, who make a median salary of $42,000.

When moving up to mid-career roles, early childhood education majors ultimately bring in the lowest annual income. Tum – stock.adobe.com

General social science majors tend to find themselves in a job with a $41,000 median salary. Performing arts majors make just slightly more, with a median salary of $41,900.

Meanwhile, those who major in a foreign language earn the lowest salary in their early careers, with a median annual income of $40,000. Many foreign language majors end up in lower-paying fields such as public service or translation.

Even though knowing a different language can translate as an advantageous skill for many job candidates, the skill itself doesn’t particularly lead to a higher-paying role — especially because obtaining foreign language skills is now extremely accessible, Fortune reported.

People no longer don’t need a formal degree to get to a level of proficiency, thanks to apps such as Duolingo and Babbel, the report added.

And even when these college grads move up to mid-level roles, the annual income is still scant compared to their peers who majored in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

When moving up to mid-career roles, early childhood education majors ultimately bring in the lowest annual income with a $49,000 median salary, while mid-career elementary education roles are just slightly higher with a $53,000 median salary.

Those who major in a foreign language earn the lowest salary in their early careers. Prostock-studio – stock.adobe.com

Here are the worst-paying college degrees for early-career annual income, with the median salary:

• Foreign language ($40,000)
• General social sciences ($41,000)
• Performing arts ($41,900)
• Anthropology ($42,000)
• Early childhood education ($42,000)
• Family and consumer sciences ($42,000)
• General education ($42,000)
• Miscellaneous biological science ($42,000)
• Social services ($42,000)
• Theology and religion ($42,000) 

The lowest-paying degrees for mid-career salaries include:

• Early childhood education ($49,000)
• Elementary education ($53,000)
• Social services ($54,000) 
• General education ($55,000)
• Special education ($55,000)
• Secondary education (58,000)
• Theology and religion ($60,000)
• Miscellaneous education ($60,000)
• Family and consumer sciences ($62,000)
• Health services ($65,000)