by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Tax Law/Taxation explores Tax Law/taxation. An Advanced, Professional Study Of Tax Law And Taxation Procedures In U.s. Or Canadian Jurisdictions Affecting Individuals And Corporations. Examples: [Tax Law/taxation (Ll.m.)], [Tax Law/taxation (J.s.d./s.j.d.)]. Continue reading for the essential details every tax law/taxation major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering tax law/taxation programs.
Nationwide, tax law/taxation is a popular field of study, with 760 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Tax Law/Taxation Schools ranking analyzes these 29 schools to determine the best overall colleges for tax law/taxation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of tax law/taxation programs later in this article.
Coursework for Tax Law/Taxation develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations tax law/taxation graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a tax law/taxation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a tax law/taxation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several tax law/taxation 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 756 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to tax law/taxation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| First professional degree | 43.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in tax law/taxation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in tax law/taxation opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to tax law/taxation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to tax law/taxation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,017,747 | -2.9% |
| Lawyers | 155,305 | 2.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of tax law/taxation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $78,306 |
| 4 years | $93,383 |
| 5 years | $107,509 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for tax law/taxation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers tax law/taxation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,726 |
| Lawyers | $73,181 |
With 29 different tax law/taxation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased tax law/taxation school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in tax law/taxation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
