by our College Data Analytics TeamLabor & Industrial Relations was the 315th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,789 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 6.4% reduction in labor relations degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,903.
This year's Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools ranking compares 19 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom labor relations rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MS in Human Resource Management
Gain the skills to support the mission, vision, values and goals of your organization with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
MBA in Human Resource Management
Find balance between your education, your job and your life with a human resources MBA at Southern New Hampshire University – a degree that will also fit your budget.
BS in Business Administration - Industrial Organizational Psychology
Learn to use psychology principles to improve productivity in your business or company with this online industrial psychology degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Talking to others to convey information effectively has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to labor relations. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most labor relations degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional labor relations certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of labor relations degrees. You can get anything from a in labor and industrial relations to the highest labor relations degree, a . Depending on the labor and industrial relations degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to labor relations, with approximately 36.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for labor relations workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 32.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 31.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.3% |
| High School Diploma | 5.0% |
About 88.6% of workers in careers related to labor relations obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in labor and industrial relations have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which labor relations career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your labor relations degree? Labor & Industrial Relations careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to labor and industrial relations.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers | 148,400 | 9.0% |
| Business Professors | 123,000 | 18.0% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 74,800 | -7.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for labor relations graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for labor and industrial relations graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers labor relations grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Managers | $126,700 |
| Business Professors | $103,330 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $70,730 |
With over 65 different labor relations degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased labor relations school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Labor & Industrial Relations that might interest you.
MS in Psychology - Industrial-Organizational Psychology
In our Master of Science in Psychology program, you can prepare for the rapidly changing professional landscape of the 21st century, which has led to a growing demand for individuals with a formal psychology background.
BS in Business Administration - Human Resources Management
Prepare to step into a human resources position in nearly any industry in private, nonprofit and government sectors with this specialized online bachelor's in HR from Southern New Hampshire University.
Labor & Industrial Relations is one of 6 different types of Human Resource Management programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration | 19,084 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,921 |
| Human Resources Development | 2,315 |
| Other Human Resources Management and Services | 1,450 |
| Labor Studies | 171 |
Image Credit: By Arunkumar Umapathy under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
