Alumni Salaries

Salary outcomes for Ph.D. graduates vary significantly based on role, sector and location. Data is reported through the Alumni Outcomes Dashboard (verified Washington state records).

Reported Salaries:

• Five years after graduation (Alumni Outcomes Dashboard): Average $117,000; range $60,000 - $183,000.

iSchool Career Services supports Ph.D. students in exploring academic and non-academic career paths, developing negotiation skills, and aligning opportunities with their long-term professional goals.

Research Areas & Dissertations

Research is the centerpiece of the Ph.D. experience. Students pursue independent scholarly research while working closely with faculty mentors in interdisciplinary labs and centers. Areas of ongoing research include::

• Data Science
• Digital Youth
• Health and Well-Being
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Indigenous Knowledge
• Information and Society
• Learning Sciences
• Library and Information Science
• Sociotechnical Information Systems

Completed dissertations showcase the original contributions of our alumni. Recent examples include:

• Off Into the Sunset: Designing for the Inevitable End of Projects
• Computational Support for Longitudinal Well-Being
• Towards Analyzing Online Communities of Problematic Information: A Computational Approach
• Towards More Intelligent, Intuitive, and Inclusive Communication with Computers in Text and Images
• Stakeholders’ Interpretations of Data for Equitable Computing Education

Find a full list of completed dissertations here.

Spotlight: In 2025, Ph.D. ‘25 alum Yim Register received the International Society for the Study of Information Global Dissertation Award for their dissertation, “The Future of AI Can Be Kind: Strategies for Embedded Ethics in AI Education.” Their research investigates examples of algorithmic harms and creates learning methods to teach students about these harms. By drawing on students’ own experiences, their work provides a blueprint for integrating ethical reasoning into technical education and transforming how learners engage with algorithms.

Alumni Roles

Graduates of the Ph.D. program pursue careers that advance knowledge and practice across multiple sectors. Common roles include (Next Destination Survey & Alumni Outcomes Dashboard):

• Postsecondary Teacher
• Web and Digital Interface Designer
• Software Developer
• Database Architect
• Data Scientist
• Project Management Specialist
• Marketing Manager
• Assistant Director
• Assistant Professor
• Design Researcher
• Postdoctoral Researcher
• Research Principal
• UX Researcher

Where Alumni Work

Ph.D. alumni contribute to institutions and organizations worldwide.

• Washington state employment: 56% of alumni work in Washington five years after graduation (Alumni Outcomes Dashboard).
• Geographic reach (5-year data): Most alumni remain in the West (77.9%), with others working across the Northeast (6.5%), South (8.8%), and Midwest (2.9%).
• Top employers: Ph.D. alumni work at a diverse range of organizations, including:
  • Academia & research: University of Washington, Syracuse University, Arizona State University, Data Science Institute (Imperial College)
  • Technology & industry: Microsoft, Amazon, Google, TikTok, Visa, GitHub, Blue Origin
  • Industry & nonprofits: T-Mobile, Anthem, Lumen

Career Resources

Ph.D. students have access to tailored professional development resources to prepare for careers in academia, industry, and beyond.

• For prospective Ph.D. & incoming UW students: Learn more about internships, job search strategies, and employer connections through the UW Career & Internship Center.
• For current Ph.D. students: Access tailored career guidance, resume tips, job boards, and more through the iSchool Career Guide for Ph.D. (Canvas log-in required).