Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Williamsburg Technical College
SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 19.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree from Williamsburg Technical College earn a median salary of $26,197 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $27,518. The degree typically pays for itself in over 10 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
$21,570
Typical Career
$26,197
Top Performers
$31,708
Break-even is not clear from the available earnings data.
Debt-to-Income Check
$175
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $2,183. Most students can comfortably afford about a $175 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 0.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.3x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
Where Associate'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
$27,518
Nominal: $26,197 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 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 | $17,924 | $23,696 | $31,813 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $21,570 | $26,197 | $31,708 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $21,518 | $30,926 | $35,528 |
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 $26,197 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $26,197 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $27,518 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 46.1% employed in this field one year post-graduation, and 41.8% and 23.3% in subsequent years. However, the estimated break-even point for this educational path compared to a high school-only route exceeds ten years, indicating a longer return on investment. While the program offers valuable skills for a growing industry, prospective students should weigh the extended time frame for financial benefits against their career goals and immediate financial needs.
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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.