Linguisticsat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $30,524/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Linguistics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $672K; scenarios range from $591K to $697K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your UCLA degree in Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies opens doors well beyond traditional academic paths. The above-average earnings reflect the high caliber of UCLA graduates and their adaptability, particularly within the dynamic Los Angeles job market. This isn't a direct vocational pipeline; instead, you're developing sophisticated analytical, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills highly valued across diverse sectors.
Consider roles in tech (user experience, natural language processing), international relations, government, or even marketing and media, where understanding communication nuances is paramount. While some tasks, like basic translation, face high AI risk, the program's rigor prepares you for complex problem-solving and strategic roles that AI cannot replicate. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that apply your linguistic insights in real-world settings, perhaps in L.A.'s entertainment, tech, or non-profit industries, and cultivate complementary skills like data analysis or advanced foreign language proficiency.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Linguistics
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Linguistics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Linguistics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Linguistics at UCLA
What does a 44/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Linguistics at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Linguistics programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Linguistics at University of California-Los Angeles?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.