Everyone has heard the success stories of those that managed to go on to become billionaires despite the fact that they never completed high school or maybe even never made it to high school. The first Internet billionaire, Jim Clark, is a billionaire despite having dropped out when he was 17. Many stars such as Quentin Tarantino and John Travolta also do not have a high school diploma. Still, despite the success stories, the best chance for future financial success still lies in obtaining an education. While getting a college degree is no guarantee of a great paying job or of a job with stability, it certainly increases the odds significantly.

So, exactly how much money can you expect to earn if you complete your high school education? How high will your income potential climb if you pursue an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree? While there are no clear cut answers to these questions, one thing is for certain: on average, you can expect to earn a great deal more money each time you decide to take your education to the next level.

There are certainly a number of different factors that will play a role in the amount of income you earn. If you decide to become a teacher and you earn a master’s degree, for example, you may not earn as much as a person with a bachelor’s degree in business. After all, teachers are notoriously known for making little pay when compared to other professional careers. Nonetheless, you are still more likely to make money as a teacher with a master’s degree than if you were someone with only a high school diploma.