The U.S. Census Bureau has published new data on educational attainment in the United States for 2024, detailing the education levels of adults aged 18 and older by various demographic and social characteristics. The information comes from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
According to the report, in 2024, 42.8% of people ages 25 to 39 held a bachelor’s degree or higher. Among those ages 40 to 54, this figure was 41.5%, while it was 34.2% for individuals age 55 and older. When broken down by gender, women age 25 and older were more likely than men to have a bachelor’s degree or higher, at rates of 40.1% compared to 37.1%.
Among employed workers in 2024, nearly half (49.3%) had completed high school or earned an associate degree as their highest level of education, while another significant portion (44.5%) had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. A smaller group—6.1%—did not have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Looking at specific occupations, professional and related fields saw the highest share of workers with at least a bachelor’s degree (76.5%), followed by management, business, and financial roles (64.2%). Installation, maintenance, and repair jobs had the largest proportion of employees whose highest credential was a high school diploma or associate degree (78.3%).
By industry sector, transportation and utilities employed the most workers with only a high school diploma or associate degree (67.5%). Conversely, information industries led in employing workers with at least a bachelor’s degree (64.9%), closely followed by education and health services (61.2%).
The Current Population Survey is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and serves as the main source for national labor force statistics.
“All comparative statements in this tip sheet have undergone statistical testing, and unless otherwise noted, all are statistically significant at the 10 percent significance level,” according to documentation provided by the Census Bureau.
More details on survey methodology are available through technical documentation offered by the Census Bureau.
