After The GED Salary-Calculator

Last Updated on April 9, 2024.

The GED diploma or certificate is awarded by your state when you have passed the four independent subject tests of the GED exam.

Whether you’ll receive a GED high school equivalency diploma or a certificate depends on your state. In this post, we’ll call it the GED diploma.

If you have a GED diploma, new job options will open up to you. There are many high-paid jobs with an even higher than average salary. To check your earning potential, use our calculators.

How this Calculator Works

Enter the total number of hours that you’re working per week. Enter the amount of your hourly wage.

Our paycheck calculator shows you your salary BEFORE and AFTER getting a GED diploma as a weekly, monthly, and annual overview. Our calculator adds 25% to your current salary. This is the average amount that most people get after earning their GED diploma.

After the GED Salary Calculator

Your GED diploma has the same value as a common high school diploma. Today, for most jobs, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent.

The GED® diploma is a high school equivalency credential. It allows you to apply for a decently-paying job, for job advancement, or apply to college.

Practically all employers and colleges recognize and accept the GED credential in the same way as a regular high school diploma, so you can enroll in universities, community colleges, 4-year colleges, and private schools.

Estimates are that if you hold a high school or GED diploma, you will, at least, make $9,600 more annually than people who do not hold a secondary education degree.

Salary Increase with a GED

Well, it is no surprise that people with a GED diploma earn higher salaries than people who don’t have the credential. The question is, how much more will you earn?

Research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the salary increase is approximately 25% on average. That’s quite something, right? So, it seems that earning your GED credential is really rewarding!

If you would decide to continue your education even further, your salary will go up even higher. Some companies, such as Amazon, actively promote further education for their employees and are even paying for college tuition to enhance their workers’ professional options!

This simple calculator shows how important it is to invest your time in your education!

In case you didn’t complete high school, no problem! Just make sure you’ll be getting your GED diploma. Keep in mind, if you are ready to devote some time to studying, everyone can pass the GED exam!

Online GED testing has now also become a reality, so you can prepare for the exam at home, and when you’re ready, take the four GED subtests (one at a time if you prefer) from the comfort of your home.

How to Get Your GED

Age doesn’t play a role. GED testing is open to anyone from 18 to 80! And in most states, 16 and 17-year-olds also qualify if they’ll meet some additional requirements. Check here for GED age requirements in your state. Just start learning with an online GED prep course and get your GED. You’ll be rewarded.

There are more options. You may attend an Adult High School Diploma program offered through a community college or a public school. Usually, these classes are held in the evening or on weekends, so that should fit your schedule perfectly well.

On the other hand, if you feel that going back to school may be too much for you, you’ve got more options. Just take our free online GED lessons to see if online learning fits you well, and if it does, register for a good online course. We recommend Onsego’s GED prep course as it is affordable and accredited. Onsego will get you all set for the GED test fast. The GED exam has four separate modules that cover math, social studies, language, and science.

GED testing occurs at a level comparable to the knowledge level students gained during four years in high school. Keep in mind, though, that the GED test is a pretty rigorous exam and that decent preparation is absolutely required. So, what’s holding you back from getting your High School Equivalency diploma?

Now, we all know that some individuals quit high school before graduation, and there are quite a few billionaires who are GED graduates. Realize, however, that these folks are outliers. Their success stories are one in a million.

The fact of the matter is that practically all people who didn’t complete their high school education will never be able to attain a well-paying job, even if they are highly experienced. But as always, there are exceptions. Just check out these high-paying jobs for GED holders. You’ll be surprised.

If you are committed to pursuing your goals, there’s nothing that stands in the way of getting the education you desire! Resilience and willpower are required, though, and you’ll probably have to put in quite a few hours of studying, but in the end, you will reap the benefits, wouldn’t you agree?

As said before, recently, the GED exam became available in an online version as well, including great online tools such as a GED whiteboard and a scratchpad. Great developments, wouldn’t you agree?

Get Your GED and a College Degree

Well, on average, individuals with an associate’s degree make around $875 weekly on a full-time basis, while people with a bachelor’s degree have a median weekly income of some $1,280.

Even if you don’t have a debit card or credit card, paying for the GED test has become a lot easier with the American Express Bluebird prepaid card that you can upload at any Walmart and is even suggested by GED Testing Service, the official GED organization!

Interestingly, also that individuals with some advanced academic degrees (e.g., professional, master’s, or doctoral degrees) earn around $1,560 on average when they are full-time employed.

The fact of the matter is that people who hold a GED or high school credential (secondary education degree) are, on average, making at least 9,600 more annually than people who do not have a secondary education diploma!

So, although it is difficult to quantify the value of an education, this makes clear that earning your GED makes sense, and many large employers will help you get your education in order through GED or college tuition reimbursement programs. You will not only make more money, but you will qualify for a college education as well.

The fact of the matter is that median earnings for people with the highest levels of educational achievement (doctoral and professional degrees) were over triple what people without a GED or high school degree made. Do you see, education pays off, doesn’t it?