The tables illustrate the average salaries of graduates and non-graduates in the UK between 2000 and 2010, both across all age groups and within specific age brackets.
Overall, graduates consistently earned more than non-graduates throughout the period, with the income gap widening as individuals aged, peaking in middle age, and narrowing again towards retirement.
The average salary for graduates across all age groups was £29,900, significantly higher than the £18,800 earned by non-graduates. At age 22, the difference was relatively small: graduates earned £15,800 compared to £14,500 for non-graduates. However, by age 32, the gap widened substantially, with graduates earning £35,400 while non-graduates received £25,000.
The highest earnings for both groups occurred at age 42, where graduates peaked at £38,200 and non-graduates at £28,000. After this point, salaries declined gradually. By age 62, graduate earnings dropped to £25,500, nearly matching the average salary for non-graduates, which remained stable at £18,800.