Nunes, Luís CatelaFreitas, PedroBartolomeu, Laura da Trindade Vergílio2025-07-212025-07-212025-01-132025-01http://hdl.handle.net/10362/185386This paper investigates the private returns to education across fields of study for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Portugal from 2006 to 2021, using the Quadros de Pessoal dataset. The analysis reveals significant variation in wage premiums by degree levels, fields of study, and gender. While bachelor’s degree returns have declined over time, master’s degrees maintain higher and stable premiums. IT and Health fields yield the highest returns, contrasting with Humanities and Education. Gender wage gaps remain a persistent phenomenon across many fields, even within high-return domains, highlighting the complexity of wage gaps.engReturns to educationHigher educationWage premiumsFields of studyGender gapsmaster thesis203958748