10 Amazing Jobs for Communication Majors [2023]

In This Article

1. 10 Jobs for Communication Majors

2. #1 Communications Specialist

3. #2 Public Relations Specialist

4. #3 Marketing Coordinator

5. #4 Online Marketing Content Writer

6. #5 Social Media Manager

7. #6 Brand Strategist

8. #7 Copywriter

9. #8 Managing Editor

10. #9 Journalist

11. #10 News Anchor

12. Why Study Communication?

13. Communication Degree Skills

Imagine you are about to give a speech in front of a packed board room.

The thing you’re going to talk about is a new idea you believe will change the way people operate in society. You believe in 10 years people will not imagine a world without it.

But first, you have to convince this crowded room that it’s an idea worth investing in.

There’s so much pressure—you have to keep your composure while you articulate yourself and then answer all the follow-up questions.

Getting your degree in communication will help you develop the skills and confidence to sell this big pitch. With jobs spanning over a multitude of industries a communication degree might just be the right fit for you.

We’ll go over 10 top jobs you can get, reasons to study communication, and what skills you can gain from this degree.

10 Jobs for Communication Majors

A degree in Communication paves the way to diverse career opportunities. Communication graduates can find jobs in the private or government sectors and even non-profit organizations.

Using extensive research and Payscale, let's explore some of the best-paid jobs for communication majors.

1. Communications Specialist

Communications specialists create and sustain an organization's relationship with the public. They develop press releases, organize content sent out to the public, maintain public relations, and decide on social media strategies. At lower levels, they may focus on one aspect of an organization's communication process.

2. Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations specialists focus on an organization's image with the public. PR specialists emphasize maintaining a positive relationship between customers and the business they represent. They do this by developing image-building strategies, composing speeches, and designing policies.

3. Marketing Coordinator

Marketing specialists coordinate an organization's public communication strategies, overseeing relationships with clients and customers. To determine the best way to do this, they conduct significant market research. They promote their organization during events, create in-person and digital marketing strategies, coordinate promotional materials, and manage social media efforts.

4. Online Marketing Content Writer

These writers create digital content for social media, blogs, and websites. They must have strong written and verbal communication skills to determine the needs of both customers and organizations.

5. Social Media Manager

These professionals manage companies’ presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. They must stay up-to-date on developments in social media as strategies for reaching consumers frequently evolve. They also plan content and ensure posts go out at ideal times.

6. Brand Strategist

Brand strategists or brand managers develop methods to position brands in a certain way. They might work directly with an organization or through an agency to achieve a brand's goals. These goals may include gaining visibility, repositioning a brand's image, or controlling the fallout of a particular incident or issue.

7. Copywriter

Copywriters are responsible for developing messages and writing for brands in a way that appeals to their audiences and achieves marketing goals. Depending on their forte, they may write blogs, advertising campaigns or brand slogans, marketing emails, pamphlets, or event signage.

8. Managing Editor

Managing editors oversee all production and publication activities. They hire qualified staff, sign off on the final layout and publication plans, and make conclusive recommendations on major editing decisions.

9. Journalist

Journalists report on noteworthy news or topics of interest to their readers. Editors may appoint stories, or journalists may pitch stories to editors. They might work in various media, including podcasts, documentaries, newspapers, radio, and blogs.

10. News Anchor

News anchors are journalists who work for a television station or online source to deliver significant metro, state, national, or international news. As the face of a news organization they’re responsible for providing information in an engaging, concise and straightforward way.

Why Study Communication?

Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are vital for success, regardless of your plans after graduation.

Humans crave connection. Consider all the ways we communicate every day. Whether verbal or non-verbal, via social media, email, or text, effective communication is critical in every area of society.

Communication can be a rewarding and fascinating area of study.

Think about it this way:

• Do you want to better understand how organizations and groups manage communication?

• Are you interested in public advocacy and how individuals and groups create and reply to messages?

If so, when choosing a major, communication studies may be an ideal fit for you.

You’ll develop a better understanding and appreciation of human messages. Students will recognize how communication influences all areas of society from politics to the arts.

Communication programs are made up of liberal arts, social sciences, humanities, mass media, and technical communication. So students in communication studies gain speaking, writing, and analytical thinking skills.

Let's go through the 3 main benefits of studying communication:

1. Increase Your Value

The knowledge, understanding, and skills you gain from studying communication help you become an asset. More on this later. You’d bring value in a variety of contexts, from institutions to politics and families to international corporations.

Communication graduates think deeply about how communication processes relate to many pressing issues. This can serve you well, whether counseling on a public relations campaign or designing a community program. You will also know how effective communication can bring people together across cultural contexts. This is essential in an increasingly connected world.

2. Make a Difference

Many communication programs embrace a deep commitment to ethical and civic-minded communication. Students learn these values through service learning experiences and coursework that reinforce the moral imperative of good communication. Communication graduates can use their education to make a difference in their communities.

3. Get Hired

The ability to communicate is one of employers' most highly sought skills. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveyed 201 employers and found that the knowledge and skills taught in communication courses are essential for any job, regardless of the industry.

Communication Degree Skills

Communication students develop high-level skills that can be applied to almost any industry, including:

• Critical thinking

• Research

• Writing skills

• Leadership

• Public speaking

• Interpersonal skills

Let's take a closer look at each of the skills students typically develop in a communication program.

1. Analytical and Critical Thinking

Communication professionals must pour over many types of information and come to logical conclusions. Analytical and critical thinking allows you to see many sides of an issue and devise solutions to problems. And they’re essential skills for detecting underlying messages and determining strategies to combat misinformation and miscommunication.

2. Research Skills

As a communication professional, you may have to talk about topics you’re not an expert in. Learning how to find and digest credible information effectively is key for a communication major.

For example, one potential career application is conducting market research. Gathering and analyzing information about a particular market will help you determine what an organization’s target audience needs and wants.

3. Enhanced Writing Skills

Communication students learn to share important messages in writing—a valuable skill in many careers. Thanks to the boom in online content, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows ‌the demand for writers is expected to increase by an average of 8% by 2031.

4. Leadership and Public Speaking

Part of communication is learning how to entertain, educate, convince, and connect with your audience. Communication programs explore persuasive speaking, compelling arguments, and strategies to reach audiences.

When you master the art of communication, your arguments are more effective. This helps you be a more effective leader. While working on your degree, try joining a debate club. This will allow you to practice and enhance your leadership and public speaking skills.

5. Social and People Skills

Interpersonal relationships affect all areas of our lives: coworkers, family, and friends. Communication programs explore how individuals and groups exchange information.

Students examine what creates effective interpersonal communication and where problems and misunderstandings occur. This improves your empathy, allowing you to better understand and connect with your audience and balance your interests with theirs.

If you’re starting your college journey and considering liberal art major like communication, an associate degree may be a smart foundation. Golden Gate University’s Degrees+ powered by Outlier.org offers a Liberal Studies associate degree. You can earn transferable credits from this high-quality online degree and save an average of $24,296 vs. the national average 4-year tuition.

No matter your path, communication is a great major to start your future in!

Degrees+: Discover Online College Unlike Anything You’ve Experienced

Outlier (winner of TIME Best Inventions 2020) and Golden Gate University (#1 school for working professionals) have redesigned the experience of earning a college degree to minimize cost and maximize outcomes. Explore a revolutionary way to earn your college degree: