Whenever you’re sick of school, you can remind yourself that it will pay out – big time. High school graduates earn almost $10,000 more every year than those who drop out. Now, that’s real money.

Want to earn more? Here’s your average income per year based on how far you go in school:

• High school dropouts - $17,299
• High school graduates - $26,933
• Associate’s or two-year, degree - $36,645
•  Bachelor’s or four-year degree - $52,671 (Source: 2006 U.S. Bureau of the Census)

GED a Good Alternative But Not Always

Most employers will accept a GED in place of a high school diploma for entry-level positions, but not for higher level jobs. If you get a GED and then go on to earn a college degree, employers don’t seem to differentiate between the two – they’re more interested in your college degree. But consider that while many two-year colleges accept a GED for entrance, not all four-year schools do (source: Education-Portal.com).

In other words, if you want to line your pockets, you need to stay in school for a quality education. The longer you stay, the more your pay!