<P> Educational attainment is strongly correlated with income in the United States . Although the incomes of both men and women are associated with higher educational attainment (higher incomes for higher educational attainment), large income gaps linked to race and gender remained at each educational level . In 2003, average incomes ranged from $13,459 for a male high - school dropout to $90,761 for a male with an advanced degree . The most significant average income difference was between those who had some college education or an Associates degree and those who had a Bachelor's degree . While those with some college averaged $31,046, those with a bachelor's degree averaged $51,194, over $20,000 (64.9%) a year more . </P> <P> The second most dramatic difference in average income was between those with a Bachelor's degree with $51,940 and those with an advanced degree who made $72,824, roughly $21,000 (42.2%) more . The least significant difference was between those who had graduated from high school and those who had either some college or an Associates degree . Here the difference was a mere $3,766 or 13.8% . The difference between those with a high school diploma ($30,000) and those who did not complete high school ($18,826) was $8,454 or 45% . Overall, the income in the United States for all sexes, races and levels of educational attainment was $36,308 annually . </P> <P> Even though African immigrants are claimed to have higher educational attainment rates than any other group, they were the hardest hit during the most recent recession beginning in 2007 . This shows that race and / or ethnicity may play a role in income levels and job selection . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Criteria </Th> <Th> Overall </Th> <Th> Less than 9th grade </Th> <Th> High school drop - out </Th> <Th> High school graduate </Th> <Th> Some college </Th> <Th> Associates degree </Th> <Th> Bachelor's degree </Th> <Th> Bachelor's degree or more </Th> <Th> Master's degree </Th> <Th> Professional degree </Th> <Th> Doctorate degree </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Median individual income </Td> <Td> Male, age 25 + </Td> <Td> $33,517 </Td> <Td> $15,461 </Td> <Td> $18,990 </Td> <Td> $28,763 </Td> <Td> $35,073 </Td> <Td> $39,015 </Td> <Td> $50,916 </Td> <Td> $55,751 </Td> <Td> $61,698 </Td> <Td> $88,530 </Td> <Td> $73,853 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Female, age 25 + </Td> <Td> $19,679 </Td> <Td> $9,296 </Td> <Td> $10,786 </Td> <Td> $15,962 </Td> <Td> $21,007 </Td> <Td> $24,808 </Td> <Td> $31,309 </Td> <Td> $35,125 </Td> <Td> $41,334 </Td> <Td> $48,536 </Td> <Td> $53,003 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Median household income </Td> <Td> $45,016 </Td> <Td> $18,787 </Td> <Td> $22,718 </Td> <Td> $36,835 </Td> <Td> $45,854 </Td> <Td> $51,970 </Td> <Td> $68,728 </Td> <Td> $73,446 </Td> <Td> $78,541 </Td> <Td> $100,000 </Td> <Td> $96,830 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Percentage of us population without high school diploma