by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Labor & Industrial Relations covers Labor And Industrial Relations. A Program That Focuses On Employee-Management Interactions And The Management Of Issues And Disputes Regarding Working Conditions And Worker Benefit Packages, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Labor Or Personnel Relations Specialists. Includes Instruction In Labor History, Policies And Strategies Of The Labor Movement, Union Organization, Labor-Management Negotiation, Labor Law And Contract Interpretation, Labor Economics, Welfare And Benefit Packages, Grievance Procedures, And Labor Policy Studies. Continue reading for the essential details every labor & industrial relations student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering labor & industrial relations programs.
Across the country, labor & industrial relations draws strong interest, with 1,540 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Labor & Industrial Relations Schools ranking analyzes these 26 schools to determine the best overall colleges for labor & industrial relations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of labor & industrial relations programs later in this article.
Programs in Labor & Industrial Relations build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations labor & industrial relations graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a labor & industrial relations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a labor & industrial relations major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several labor & industrial relations degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 170 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 880 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 474 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 8 |
People currently working in careers related to labor & industrial relations tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 44.7% |
| First professional degree | 10.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.3% |
| Master’s degree | 9.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in labor & industrial relations careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in labor & industrial relations can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to labor & industrial relations.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to labor & industrial relations.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers | 735,120 | 1.8% |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | 674,467 | 10.0% |
| Coroners | 499,816 | -4.9% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 373,276 | 14.4% |
| Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | 370,977 | 3.7% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 255,286 | 6.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of labor & industrial relations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,722 |
| 4 years | $57,321 |
| 5 years | $65,449 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for labor & industrial relations graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers labor & industrial relations grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | $129,587 |
| Environmental Compliance Inspectors | $119,630 |
| Coroners | $110,095 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $107,570 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | $85,399 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
With 26 different labor & industrial relations programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased labor & industrial relations school rankings to help you.
Students interested in labor & industrial relations, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General | 17,602 |
| Organizational Behavior Studies | 3,447 |
| Human Resources Development | 1,604 |
| Human Resources Management and Services, Other | 950 |
| Labor Studies | 180 |
| Executive/Career Coaching | 101 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
