Behind The Mic With Joe Mathieu: Good Grades = Better Salary

BOSTON (CBS) – This is the day we all tell mom she was right.

Working hard in school pays off later in life.

This may have already seemed obvious, but now it's confirmed by science.

Sorry kids.

Researchers at the University of Miami were behind this study published in the Eastern Economic Journal. They surveyed more than 4,000 men and more than 5,000 women roughly 10 years after they graduated from high school.

And the correlation between good grades as a kid and higher salaries as an adult was very clear.

Here's what they found broken down by gender.

A one point increase in a person's high school GPA translates into a 12-percent increase in average earnings for men and a 14-percent increase for women.

It's important to make that distinction as women on average make less than men for the same jobs.

The Washington Post helps to connect the dots.

Researchers also found students who perform better in high school are motivated to continue studying. That makes it far more likely they will attend and graduate from college.

In fact, a one point increase in a student's high school GPA doubles their chance of completing college.

And, of course, there is no lack of evidence showing that a college degree translates into a higher salary.

Follow Joe on Twitter @joemathieuwbz

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