Communicating is something we all do, though some of us do it better than others! And if you’re studying communications or have thought about it, you may be wondering what jobs for communications majors are out there.
While nearly every job on the planet involves some level of communication, some jobs are tailor-made for communications majors. But there are also quite a few roles that you may not have realized are also right up your alley.
So, what kinds of jobs for communications majors are there? And which one is right for you?
What Is the Communications Major?
Before we can answer, “What is the communications major?” we have to define communication.
The dictionary defines communication as the sharing or exchanging of information. So, as you’re reading this article, we’re communicating! But this, of course, is only one type of communication. When you scroll through Instagram, read a news article, or even watch your favorite sports team, you’re communicating.
Communications majors study all of these types of communications and more. For example, they may learn about advertising to create copy that describes a product. But they may also study broadcasting, print media, public relations, or crisis communications … the list is nearly endless!
Types of Communications Degrees
You can earn any type of communications degree, from associate to doctorate. But, within each type of degree, there are concentrations.
For example, marketing is a type of communications but, instead of earning a bachelor’s degree in communications and then pursuing a marketing career, you can obtain a bachelor’s degree in marketing, likely as a business degree.
If you’re interested in journalism (also a type of communication), you can work toward a bachelor’s in journalism. However, that may be in a liberal arts or journalism program.
What’s more, a communications degree gives you career options. “A degree in communications opens up a diverse array of career possibilities, allowing individuals to thrive in various industries. After all, we are never not communicating,” says Jamie Levin, principal at JLevin Communications.
“It provides a versatile skillset that can be applied across various industries,” continues Levin. “In today’s business environment, especially where many are widespread geographically and working hybrid or remote, effective communication is more important than ever, making it a valuable asset in today’s professional landscape.”
So, what types of communications degree concentrations are there? Here are some examples:
- Sports communications: How sports teams communicate with fans, media, and sponsors.
- Marketing: Selling and promoting products or services.
- Broadcasting: Sharing information and programs via radio or television.
- Journalism: Preparing and presenting news stories via print or broadcasting.
- Media studies: Studying the history and impact of all forms of media.
- Electronic and digital communication: Broadcasting using digital means, such as live streams.
- Public relations: Managing and maintaining a company or individual’s public image.
- Organizational communication: How companies and public organizations communicate.
- Health communication: Sharing health information so individuals make better choices.
>>MORE: ‘What Should I Major In?’ Quiz
What Kinds of Jobs Are There for Communications Majors?
“One of the core skills employers look for in new graduates is communication,” notes Dirk Matthews, senior director of alumni relations at Columbia College in Chicago and president-elect of the National Career Development Association. “Communication majors are trained in various forms of this skill that can be used in multiple professions.”
This is neither an extensive nor exhaustive list. Since communication is a top skill employers look for in candidates, your job possibilities extend well beyond this list.
“Just because one majors in communications, does not mean they cannot do anything other than communications,” notes Levin. “It’s a very transferable skillset that supports success in various industries and positions.”
And if you’re looking for entry-level jobs for communications majors, they’re on this list, too, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Entry-level job titles in many fields say “coordinator,” “specialist,” or “assistant,” though not all do.
1. Marketing Manager
Average salary: $166,410
Predicted job growth: 6% (faster than average)
Marketing is the promotion of a product or service. While the end goal is often the sale of said product or service, marketers are more focused on raising awareness and educating potential customers.
Marketing professionals need exceptional communication skills to figure out how to best word promotional materials, from emails to social media captions. They need an exceptional understanding of their audience and what resonates with them.
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2. Human Resources
Average salary: $76,060
Predicted job growth: 6% (faster than average)
In human resources, you’ll use your verbal and written communication skills a lot. You may write job postings and job descriptions, conduct phone interviews with job seekers, or give a presentation about upcoming changes to the fringe benefits package.
Explore Human Resources
Step into the shoes of a human resources pro in the free course from GE Aerospace. Learn how to give constructive feedback, create a process map, and how compensation plans are created.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Giving feedback, continuous improvement tools, pay metrics and positioning, data visualization
3. Writer
Average salary: $87,590
Predicted job growth: 4% (as fast as average)
Writers communicate via the written word. While that includes things like blog posts, books, and articles, writers often use their talents to help others communicate. Some examples are creating scripts for TV shows or education videos, ghostwriting for executives or celebrities, and writing speeches.
4. Meeting and Event Planners
Average salary: $62,280
Predicted job growth: 8% (faster than average)
When you think of jobs for communications majors, meeting and event planner probably doesn’t leap to the top of your mind. But meeting and event planners communicate in so many ways. Coordinating with vendors and clients is a big part of the role, but so is designing the event so attendees get the most out of it. That includes tasks such as ensuring signs and agendas are clear so people know where they should be and when, making sure booths are laid out logically, and advertising the event.
Careers in Tourism: Event Operations
Try your hand at meeting and event planning in this free course from Moreton Bay Regional Council. Learn how to keep track of and communicate with event attendees and create a run sheet.
Avg. Time: 2-3 hours
Skills you’ll build: Organizational skills, critical thinking, attention to detail, communication skills
5. Political Communications Director
Average salary: $102,257
Predicted job growth: 8% (faster than average)
While many job functions include writing and marketing, political communications focuses on political messaging. That’s things like campaign slogans and speeches that help sell the candidate and their vision. This career also involves communicating and coordinating with members of the press to maintain a strong public image for the candidate, official, or organization you work for.
6. Salesperson
Average salary: $113,520
Predicted job growth: 1% (little or no change)
Salespeople use communication skills to persuade people to purchase a product or service. They also educate and inform their customers to help them make the best choice possible.
Salespeople need excellent negotiation skills to get people to agree to make a purchase; they also need great interpersonal skills to build relationships with potential customers and clients. If you have great verbal communication skills and particularly love talking to people, sales is a great career path to consider.
Sales
Develop practical sales skills in this free course from PepsiCo. Create a sales pitch and coach your rep on setting up store displays.
Avg. Time: 2-3 hours
Skills you’ll build: Managing team members, executing, agility, leadership, collaborating, relationship building
7. Brand Manager
Average salary: $97,789
Predicted job growth: 10% (much faster than average)
Brand managers are the authority on how a brand is positioned and communicated to its audience. That could be a company, product, or even a person. But brand managers do more than marketing. They are responsible for the growth and maintenance of it. As an example, a brand manager may coordinate with the social media team to see how the brand is resonating on social channels and design a marketing strategy based on that data.
8. Social Media Manager
Average salary: $52,613
Predicted job growth: 10% (much faster than average)
Working in social media isn’t just creating content that goes viral. It’s also about measuring its impact on things like generating leads and closing sales. That requires a fair amount of analytical skills in addition to communication skills.
Social media managers need to know not only how to communicate with their brand’s audience, but also how to communicate on each specific social media channel. For example, they may post about the same product on both Instagram and Facebook, but share different types of posts because of the variations of each platform.
9. Public Relations Specialist
Average salary: $70,190
Predicted job growth: 6% (faster than average)
Public relations specialist is a common entry-level job for communications majors. The public relations team helps cultivate a positive image for a brand or person through public or forward-facing communications. As a public relations specialist, you may schedule when press releases are sent out, follow up with media contacts, or write press releases.
10. Producer
Average salary: $107,170
Predicted job growth: 7% (faster than average)
When you think of a producer, the first thing that leaps to mind may be someone who helps create big-budget Hollywood movies. And you’d be right! But the job title “producer” also encompasses radio shows, video games, and podcasts. And while producers make a lot of the business decisions around the production, they flex their communication skills throughout the process.
11. Journalist
Average salary: $101,430
Predicted job growth: -3% (decline)
Journalists use their communication skills to share information that keeps the public updated on what’s going on in their communities, cities, nations, and the world. They may use written communication skills to write articles for newspapers or magazines, or share news in videos or on TV.
Bonus Jobs for Communications Majors
The list of jobs for communications majors doesn’t stop there. Here are other communications careers you can pursue:
- Corporate communications manager
- Content creator
- Reporter
- Nonprofit or government communications director
- Healthcare communications director
- Advertising account executive
- Speechwriter
- Media planner
- Crisis communications manager
- Digital marketing specialist
- Copywriter
A communications major unlocks skills that can help you land a role in almost any industry, depending on how you want to apply your communications skills. Whether you want to work in politics for a mayoral candidate or in marketing for a new tech product, the options are nearly endless when you focus on your transferable skills.
Top Skills for Communications Majors
Communication is, of course, the top skill you’ll need, no matter which career path you pursue. But beyond your communication skills, you’ll build other skills throughout your studies.
“Most communications majors tend to have experience in project-based assignments,” says Dirk. “This allows students to develop their creative problem-solving and project management skills.”
Collaboration
While you may be a one-person team, you’ll often have to collaborate with coworkers, vendors, and other stakeholders. For example, if you’re working in social media, you may need to coordinate your strategy with a graphic designer and marketing team.
Project Management
Communication roles aren’t project management, per se, but you’ll often use your project management skills on the job. If you produce a podcast, you may need to schedule guests, coordinate the production schedule, and get the episode live. That requires you to juggle schedules, follow up with people, and, you guessed it, use your project management skills.
Project Management
Communicate with a client to understand their requests, then conduct initial project planning to help turn their ideas into reality.
Avg. Time: 1-2
Skills you’ll build: Critical thinking, identification, risk analysis, time management, project organization, Excel
Attention to Detail
Whether it’s a blog post, a script, or a speech, many communications jobs require you to put words on a page (or screen). Editing, proofreading, correcting, and rewriting are all necessary and important tasks. Without stellar attention to detail, you may send out a press release with a typo.
Analytical Skills
While many of these jobs rely on creative thinking, they also require strong analytical skills. Some roles (like writer or social media specialists) use data to inform their decisions, so you’ll have to gather and analyze information. For example, if you’re a content writer working for a website, you may need to explore how well a post is performing, determine why traffic is dropping, and devise a solution to change that.
Adaptability
Finally, a critical skill for people in communications is adaptability. Sometimes, things change quickly and you need to adjust your plans. Say you’re a brand manager and there’s some bad press around your product. You’ll need to move quickly to deal with the situation, requiring you to be flexible and engage in crisis communications instead of your typical brand management strategy.
More Jobs for Communications Majors
This list barely scratches the surface of possible jobs for a communications major. Not sure what kind of job is right for you, no matter the major? Take our Ultimate What Career Is Right for Me quiz and find out!
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