There is a lot you can do with a communications degree and it’s absolutely worth it if you choose the right career. Graduates who have majored in communications have a wide range of desirable and interesting careers to pursue.
Most students are required to take a communications course to fulfill Gen Ed requirements, so you may be familiar with this major. However, some colleges and universities offer more specialized communications degrees for specific jobs. Communications concentrations may include fashion, health, strategic, visual, business, technical, global, sports, and media communications.
One of the most exciting aspects of getting a communications degree is that it covers a wide range of subjects. If you haven’t chosen a major yet or are considering changing your major, I encourage you to read How To Choose A Major When You Are Undecided.
Let’s take a look at the different careers you can pursue with a communications degree. Annual Income, job outlook, and common fields of study information come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Types Of Careers You Can Pursue With A Communications Degree
A graduate with an undergraduate degree in Communications might pursue a career in one of the following areas:
- Advertising, Promotions, or Marketing Manager
- Fundraiser
- Editor
- Human Resources Specialist
- Interpreter/Translator
- Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner
- News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Public Relations or Fundraising Manager
- Sales Manager
- Technical Writer
- Writer/Author
Now that we have established the different careers that you can pursue with a communications degree, let’s take a deeper look at those careers.
Advertising, Promotions, or Marketing Manager
These managers are required to have prior experience in advertising, sales, or marketing. Therefore, this isn’t an entry-level job and it typically requires a bachelor’s degree. Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers are responsible for planning programs, marketing campaigns, and promotions to generate interest in products or services.
- Annual Income: $133,380
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 10% (Faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: business, marketing, advertising, journalism, and communications.
Fundraiser
Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and accept donations for organizations. Typically, they work for nonprofit organizations, including educational institutions, religious organizations, health research foundations, social services organizations, and political campaigns. Fundraisers need strong communication and organizational skills.
- Annual Income: $60,660
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 11% (Much faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: business, communications, and social science.
Editor
An Editor reviews and revises content before it is published. Content may be a magazine, newspaper, report, blog, book, speech, or press release. Editors are important for ensuring content is ready to be published or shared and must be thorough and have strong writing skills.
- Annual Income: $63,350
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: -5% (Decline)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: English, communications, and journalism.
Human Resources Specialist
Strong communication skills are crucial for Human Resources (HR) employees. A Human Resources Specialist works with Hiring Managers to recruit, screen, and interview job applicants. Human Resources Specialists assist job applicants with the onboarding process, including assisting with training and explaining organizational policies and expectations. They also may handle compensation and benefits as well as employee relations.
- Annual Income: $62,290
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 8% (Faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: human resources, business, and communications.
Interpreter/Translator
Interpreters and Translators must be proficient in at least two languages. Typically, in the US, English and one other language. They translate information from one language into another and often work at schools, hospitals, courtrooms, meeting rooms, and conference centers.
- Annual Income: $49,110
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 20% (Much faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: foreign language, business, and communications.
Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner
Event planning requires coordinating and managing abilities to ensure the event is professional and successful. Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners work with clients and vendors to coordinate their client’s events. They may coordinate professional or personal events at offices, hotels, conference centers, or rented venues.
- Annual Income: $49,470
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 18% (Much faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: business, communications, and social science.
News Analyst, Reporter, or Journalist
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists keep the public updated about current events and noteworthy information. They are required to have strong oral and written communication skills. They must present information clearly.
- Annual Income: $48,370
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: -9% (Decline)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: English, communications, and journalism.
Public Relations Specialist
A Public Relations Specialist is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive public image for the company or organization they represent. Public Relations Specialists may work for companies, schools, or governmental organizations. They often work in offices. However, they also are required to have strong public speaking skills and are expected to deliver speeches and attend community events.
- Annual Income: $62,800
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 8% (Faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: communications, social science, and business.
Public Relations or Fundraising Manager
A Public Relations or Fundraising Manager requires a bachelor’s degree and experience in public relations or fundraising. After a few years as a Public Relations Specialist or a Fundraiser, you may be able to land a management position which comes with a significant salary increase. Public Relations Managers are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive public image for the company or organization they represent. While Fundraising Managers coordinate events and campaigns to bring in donations for organizations.
- Annual Income: $119,860
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 8% (Faster than average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: public relations, communications, and business
Sales Manager
Sales Managers oversee a team of Sales Representatives. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for their team. A Sales Manager is typically required to have a bachelor’s degree but the field can be in anything as long as the person has previous experience as a Sales Representative. Sales Representatives often only require a high school diploma. Sales Managers can benefit from the courses taken in a Communications major because they need skills to communicate with clients and employees as well as problem-solve and plan.
- Annual Income: $127,490
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 5% (As fast as average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: varies greatly, courses in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, marketing, and statistics are advantageous.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers must find a way to effectively communicate complex and technical information. They prepare documents such as instruction manuals, how-to guides, or informative articles to explain technical information. Many Technical Writers concentrate their writing on a certain industry such as computer and management or scientific industries.
- Annual Income: $78,060
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 6% (As fast as average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: English, communications, and journalism.
Writer/Author
Writers and Authors write content for various types of media. There are several job titles that writers may have, including but not limited to, Biographers, Bloggers, Content Writers, Copywriters, Novelists, Playwriters Screenwriters, and Speechwriters. Many writers are self-employed making the annual income difficult to predict because it requires them to sell what they have written.
- Annual Income: $69,510
- Job Outlook For 2021-31: 4% (As fast as average)
- Common Fields Of Undergraduate Study: English, communications, and journalism.
—Sensei
