As of 2019, nearly 2.5 million people in the United States were entering the workforce with a communications degree. Nearly every type of job requires communication skills, so it is easy to see why so many people decide to earn the degree. After all, it opens a world of job opportunities that range from entertainment to politics and spans everything in between. Check out these jobs for communication majors to help you determine if earning the degree may be the right choice for you.
11 Best Jobs for Communication Majors
Are you interested in working with the public or becoming a politician? Perhaps you want to write social media posts or blogs for a living. No matter what your passion is, chances are that you will be interested in one of these jobs for communication majors.
1. Public Relations Specialists
Large corporations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses and everything in between are concerned about how clients, donors and the general public perceive them. Perhaps one of the most common jobs for communication majors, public relations specialists are responsible for using the media to influence how the public feels about a particular organization. They organize press conferences or events meant to paint companies in a positive light, write press releases and more.
There are a variety of ways that a person can break into the public relations business. Some people work directly for corporations, nonprofit organizations or small businesses. Many even work for government agencies, media companies and schools. It is also possible to work as a representative in marketing and advertising agencies and have several clients at a time.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public relationships specialists had a median pay of nearly $63,000 a year in 2020. The job is expected to grow by 11% through 2030, which is faster than average.
2. Social and Digital Media Managers
As social media platforms and other types of digital media become increasingly popular, so does the need for people who understand the unique style of communication that ties into the online world. Perhaps one of the most popular jobs for communication majors of the last few years, social and digital media managers are responsible for conveying a company’s message in a way that draws their target audience in and keeps them interested.
A typical social media manager is responsible for running all of a company’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and a range of others. Developing a digital content strategy that keeps readers coming back for more means understanding the importance of not only written content but also high-quality images and videos. Furthermore, it means understanding popular culture, especially in terms of memes and how to make them relevant to the companies represented. In addition to planning and tracking digital marketing campaigns, social media managers can expect to communicate directly with readers via comments and private messages.
The BLS states that people working as social media managers earn a median annual wage of about $57,000. The job is expected to have an average growth rate through 2030.
3. Meeting and Event Planners
Communication is essential for pulling off a successful event, so it is no wonder that becoming a meeting and event planner is a common job for a communications major. People in this position have the skills to assess groups of people to determine what they want or expect from a meeting. They may be responsible for a wide variety of gatherings that range from professional seminars to company holiday parties.
In addition to putting together the events beforehand, most planners stay on-site the day of the occasion to ensure everything runs smoothly. They may also take on tasks such as writing event brochures or introducing speakers during seminars.
The BLS states that meeting and event planners earn a median annual salary of about $51,000 as of 2019. Jobs are expected to grow about 18% by 2030, which is much faster than average.
4. Marketing and Advertising Specialists
Sometimes, people who are looking for jobs for communication majors decide to go the route of advertising and marketing. Together, advertising and marketing are essential for a company’s success. From creating a brand identity to finding ways to increase profits, someone who enters marketing and advertising has a wide variety of options to choose from.
Marketers are responsible for conducting research to determine what current or potential customers want from a company. They also monitor trends in the market and do what they can to get ahead of any downturns. Other job duties may include developing campaigns to build brand awareness or creating content for media platforms. Marketing and advertising managers often work with various other departments as well, including sales, public relations and product development.
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for advertising and promotions managers in 2020 was about $133,000, while marketing managers earned a median wage of about $142,000. Both jobs are expected to grow by about 10% through 2030.
5. College Alumni and Development Officers
If you have ever been part of a college alumni group, then you know that planning an event for one takes a lot of hard work. Jobs for communication majors often include becoming college alumni and development officers. They are responsible for a variety of duties, including planning college reunions, hosting networking events or fundraising galas and planning and hosting a range of other types of events.
Other tasks may include studying prospective donors and communicating in a way that will entice them to donate to the organization. This job, in particular, is where a communication major’s ability to create concise, carefully worded content comes into play. Alumni development officers must have strong social skills as well.
Alumni development officers typically earn a median annual salary of about $54,000, while college development officers can expect to make closer to $155,000 as a median annual salary.
6. Human Resources Specialists
Although perhaps not thought of often, human resources specialists with a communication degree have quite a lot to offer the industry. After all, communication is one of the most critical aspects of helping a company run successfully. Human resources specialists are important for maintaining company morale and supporting employees as they enter, maintain or leave the job.
One of their most important jobs is to mediate and diffuse conflict between employees or between employees and managers in the workplace. They are also responsible for managing disciplinary actions for employees and conducting benefit analyses as well. Some human resources specialists take on the responsibility of recruiting, hiring and training new employees for the company, while others are responsible for ensuring any employees who are terminated or resign return any company property and undergo an exit interview. Regardless of which tasks a human resources specialist takes on, communication is imperative.
As of May 2020, the BLS lists the median annual pay for human resources specialists at about $63,000. The job outlook is about average, growing roughly 10% through 2030.
7. Media Planners
Where social media marketers focus on creating content specific to social platforms, media planners are responsible for creating content for other types of platforms. That is not to say media planners do not use the internet, though. In fact, they pay attention to how consumers click, read, view and listen to media to choose the best outlets for getting a company’s message across.
Becoming a media planner is one of the best jobs for communication majors because those graduates are more adept at examining how specific demographics consume their media. Media planners are responsible for finding optimal advertising placement on websites, magazines or newspapers and television or radio programs. They may also work with the advertising department by using their writing skills to help the department develop the most effective wording.
Media planners make an average annual salary of about $50,000, although they top out at much more if they work for larger corporations.
8. Writers and Publishers
Becoming a writer or publisher is a natural fit when you imagine jobs for communication majors. After all, the written word is one of the oldest forms of communication. Writing skills can be used in various ways, from writing press releases to creating blog content for company websites. Other common writing and publishing jobs include technical writing, journalistic writing or authoring novels.
Strong writers and publishers must be able to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, know how to structure content in the most effective way to provide readers with information and understand the basics of revising and preparing content to be published.
The median pay for writers and authors in 2020 was about $67,000 annually, while editors earned about $63,000 annually. The outlook or writing is an average growth of about 9% through 2020, while the need for editors is expected to be a little below average at a 5% growth through 2030. Often, freelancers can make more money in the industry.
9. Health Educators
Health educators are responsible for assessing health problems in a specific population and then helping to create programs that address the issues. Communicating effectively with the target audience is essential and includes understanding their own perception of their health problems as well as their attitude about treatment programs.
Health educators often develop and host seminars or workshops that teach their attendees about health concerns and how to address or treat them. Health educators may also create web content, brochures or other types of literature for their target population.
In addition to effective communication skills, people who are interested in becoming health educators must also be detail-oriented and well-organized to effectively plan and promote their health programs.
The BLS estimates that the 2020 median pay for a health educator was about $48,000 annually. Job needs are expected to grow much faster than average at about 17% through 2030.
10. Politics
People who go into politics rely on strong communication to get their messages across to potential supporters. Politics is a broad term, but the communication aspect is significant regardless of whether a person is consulting on a campaign, running for office or lobbying legislators about supporting a cause.
People searching for jobs for communication majors may find that working in politics means a wide variety of responsibilities. Political workers may plan and draft bills, raise money for political campaigns or important causes or conduct opposition research. Other common tasks include forming coalitions with other offices or communicating accomplishments to constituents.
The income available in politics varies greatly depending on the job performed. For example, a legislative assistant makes about $50,000 annually, but a political scientist earns a median salary of around $125,000.
11. Sales Representatives
People who not only communicate well but also find they are masters of persuasion will likely be happy to know that sales representatives are common jobs for communication majors. This career path uses both written and verbal communication methods to create and give sales pitches, sell products or services and gain repeat customers. Sales roles span a variety of industries and job titles, from retail representative to real estate broker.
Someone who works in sales should be adept at explaining the benefits of products or services, have the ability to analyze existing and potential needs and be able to manage client relationships, including resolving complaints. Cold calling and other methods of reaching out to potential new clients are also common.
The amount of money that people make in sales varies greatly depending on what industry they work in, what their base pay is and how much they earn in commission. The typical sales development representative earns about $49,000 per year.
Find Jobs for Communication Majors
Once you have earned your degree, you will want to find jobs for communication majors. Talk to your college’s alumni association to learn about networking events, apply to jobs posted on the internet and attend local hiring events to find work in a field you are hoping to join. Remember, the possibilities are practically endless with a communications degree. Check out FutureSprout for more career tips.
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