In the United States, education is valued highly, and Americans have preconceived notions of what every level of education represents. They are merely generalizations. People break out of them all the time. But on the whole, Americans assume things about one another based on their level of education. Below is further elaboration on what certain milestone education levels represent to Americans.

• High School. In order to enter the job market anywhere in the United States, a high school level of education is expected. This is the lowest level of education accepted for positions that rank at entry level or customer service level. Individuals who have less than a high school education can typically only find menial jobs, such as janitorial services or manual labor.
• Associates Degree. Earning an associates degree signifies that you have some level of expertise in a particular area in the United States. It may be in a trade or it may be in another professional area. Most skilled professions require a Bachelors degree at minimum to be hired, but an Associates degree can put a person in a higher income bracket.
• Bachelors. The Bachelors degree is the initial targeted degree for most people. Students work toward their Bachelors because they know that it will officially put them in a different hiring bracket, as well as a different income bracket. However, where as a Bachelors degree was all that was needed to earn a decent living in the past, a Bachelors degree is now considered the degree to get merely to move yourself above the poverty line.
• Masters. A Masters degree is the new standard for those trying to achieve the likelihood of a good salary. A Masters currently does what a Bachelors used to: make a person competitive for the skilled professions. A Masters is very likely to put a person at the level of average to high income earner and will garner respect from peers and colleagues.
• PhD. A PhD is still the ultimate level of education status to achieve in the United States. It signifies absolute expertise in a certain area, as well as the highest pay bracket in that area as well.