Graph Shows Breakdown Of Average Salaries For SEC Grads, You Might Be Pissed

The Twitter account @SEC_SportsTalk recently published a chart comparing SEC graduates’ annual average salary. Keep in mind, the figures they used are based on salaries earned 15 years after graduation. Nonetheless, like all comparisons of this nature, it’s going to leave some people a little pissed.

Here’s the breakdown:

Pretty interesting stuff. I’m not surprised by Vandy, and frankly, you shouldn’t be, either. It’s the only private school in the SEC, it’s arguably the hardest of the schools to get into, and it’s known for its strong alumni network. You’d think with all that money, Vanderbilt would throw a little bit more into its football program. As for the Aggies, I’ll chalk it up to Texas’ huge economy and the petroleum industry. After those two, there are numerous factors that could be contributors to each school’s ranking.

Auburn, like A&M, is known for its engineering program, so that could be a factor. LSU and Florida are tied for fourth, which then puts Mizzou in sixth place. Looking at the economy of each state down the list, that gives somewhat of an indicator of why a particular school is ranked where it is.

Seven of the states in which SEC schools are located are among the poorest in the nation in terms of median household income. South Carolina is forty-second in the nation, followed by Louisiana at forty-fourth, Tennessee at forty-fifth, Alabama at forty-sixth, Kentucky at forty-seventh, and Arkansas at forty-eighth. Coming in last is Mississippi at fiftieth.

Still, the numbers don’t exactly match up. There are other factors out there about each school that put some higher up than others. If you can think of any, go ahead and list them in the comments section below.

  1. TryingWayTooHard

    Now let’s see where the SEC ranks in salary compared to other Power 5 conferences.

    9 years ago at 9:59 am
      1. 5OClockShadow

        Big 10 has Michigan and Ohio State, could be a major contender. PAC 12 is aided by wage inflation on the left coast.

        9 years ago at 10:11 am
      2. fratchetpussy

        Dont forget purdue and illinois are top 10 engineering, iu is top 10 business, and northwestern is just a great school all around

        9 years ago at 10:23 am
      3. roundrockdonuts

        PAC 12 also has Stanford, USC, UCLA, and Berkeley which are all great schools

        9 years ago at 12:34 pm
    1. Deltmeister

      Big East would probably have highest average salary of the top 6 conferences. Private schools and the bottom earners aren’t gonna drag down average much. Instant take a lap for suggesting its a power conference, but whatever. Come March we’ll see.

      9 years ago at 10:29 am
    2. unkle

      There was an article about just that a few years ago. It was the big ten by a mile, followed by acc. I don’t remember the order of the next two, but I do know sec was in last. That was pre big east breakup.

      9 years ago at 10:49 am
  2. pkpud17

    Fine print upper left hand corner- 15 years after graduation. I’m gonna wanna make more than $70 k at 37 years old

    9 years ago at 10:02 am
    1. duckdog

      It’s an average, so it’s pretty well diluted with the grads who are also Social Workers and the “Second Career” Moms who return to the Marketplace after punching out and raising a few kids.

      9 years ago at 10:31 am
  3. GeedsAreRuiningAmerica

    Vandy isn’t “arguably” the hardest SEC school to get into. It’s the only one that has higher admissions standards than writing your name on the application.

    9 years ago at 10:02 am
    1. delteagle

      Georgia has pretty stiff admission requirements. Around a 28 on the ACT at least

      9 years ago at 10:08 am
      1. Gotham Fratman

        You’re telling me that everyone in Mark Richt’s football program got a 28 on the ACT?

        9 years ago at 10:59 am
    2. roundrockdonuts

      You have to write several essays to get into A&M, but otherwise I’ll agree with you

      9 years ago at 12:40 pm
    3. bond1856

      For automatic admission to A&M you have to be in the top 10% of your graduating class or score a 30 or higher on your ACT and/or a combined math and reading score of 1300 on your SAT. Note that the writing section doesn’t apply towards this. Top ten in every engineering category, and a top 20 (on some sites top 10) business school among public universities. Pretty sure getting into a&m requires a little more than “writing your name on the application.”

      9 years ago at 1:55 pm
      1. USArmy

        Meanwhile, there’s not a fucking thing to do other than play dominoes, drink beer and feel like you’re living in a never ending episode of Dukes of Hazzard.

        9 years ago at 2:44 pm
      2. AnalOnFirstDate

        In case you’re wondering why you got lapped, it’s because your claim that A&M is top ten in every engineering category is completely false.

        9 years ago at 5:19 pm
      1. Shibby

        Good writing would factor in both; So lets assume Grandex will only choose one to keep up with the current trends.

        9 years ago at 10:26 am
      2. USArmy

        Shibby, I hadn’t seen you on a few articles and I was beginning to think you got the frax (frat ax), but I’m glad to see you’re still kicking. Execs and Fifth Years are becoming a rare breed.

        9 years ago at 2:46 pm
  4. DudeBroGuy

    Possible salary inflation from all the football players that come through the SEC?

    9 years ago at 10:18 am
    1. ammo

      Only if it’s a double average – average of all reporting alumni 15 years after graduation, reporting their average salary over those 15 years. If it’s a simple average of alumni salary at the 15 year mark, most football players don’t play that long.

      9 years ago at 10:36 am