What Can You Do With a Communications Degree?

Written by: Hilbert College   •  Sep 14, 2022

What Can You Do With a Communications Degree?

The communications field is always changing. Digital media has become a major platform for both business and correspondence. The field’s constant adaptation to novel technologies and platforms continuously provides further opportunity with the creation of unique jobs, even including creating and managing social media accounts for clients with millions of followers.

Potential career options abound for students considering a communications degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Digital Media and Communication. A communications degree can also prepare graduates for opportunities to work remotely, especially if they pursue a path in the realm of social media or journalism.

Typical Communications Major Career Fields

What jobs you can get with a communications degree depends on your degree concentration, interest and experience. Common career fields appropriate for those pursuing a communications degree include the following:

• Journalism
• Social media
• Public relations
• Marketing and advertising
• Education
• Publishing
• Television
• Film

A communications degree can help equip you with important skills for a multitude of career choices, though, including a career in advocacy, politics, crowdfunding or event planning.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Communications Degree?

Earning a communications degree could be the starting point for a new career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects media and communication jobs to grow by 14% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, resulting in over 151,000 new jobs. A communications degree can also help professionals advance in their current career in communications by enhancing their skills and qualifications.

Public Relations Specialists

Public relations specialists help clients maintain a positive public image. The BLS states that employment for public relations specialists is projected to grow by 11% from 2020 to 2030, creating approximately 29,200 job openings each year in the time period. Typical job duties include the following:

• Crafting public relations strategies
• Managing media relations
• Organizing events
• Helping resolve disputes

Public relations specialists earned a median annual salary of $62,800 as of May 2021, according to the BLS.

Journalists

Many specialties allow for career diversification and potential career advancement for journalists. Journalism career opportunities include sports journalism, arts and entertainment journalism, news reporting, and radio broadcasting. Employment of news analysts, reporters and journalists is projected to grow by 6% from 2020 to 2030, aiding in the creation of around 5,400 jobs, according to the BLS. Typical job duties include the following:

• Researching and gathering information to report on a topic
• Conducting interviews
• Taking photographs
• Creating and editing news packages
• Collaborating with a team, which may include other writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers and marketing staff
• Arriving on scene quickly for breaking news stories
• Writing scripts for television

Journalists earned a median annual salary of $48,370 as of May 2021, according to the BLS.

Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators

The BLS forecasts that the overall employment of camera operators and video and film editors will grow by 29% from 2020 to 2030.
Typical job duties include the following:

• Filming in studio during production
• Filming live, on location
• Editing video footage either in office/in studio or remotely
• Using graphic design and visual effects skills to create video content

Film, video editors and camera operators earned a median annual salary of $60,360 as of May 2021, according to the BLS.

Advertising or Marketing Managers

Advertising or marketing managers usually work with and supervise teams to spark interest in services and products. The BLS states that from 2020 to 2030, the employment of advertising and marketing managers is expected to increase by 10%, the addition of about 31,100 new jobs each year in the time period. Typical job duties include the following:

• Discovering new markets
• Crafting and improving current marketing strategies
• Working with senior management to develop new advertising concepts
• Planning and organizing promotional events

Advertising or marketing managers earned a median annual salary of $133,380 as of May 2021, according to the BLS.

Communications Degree Skills

What can you do with a communications degree to improve your skills? Pursuing a degree in communications can provide ample opportunity to fine-tune current communication skills or acquire new ones. Graduates can use their communications degree skills in not only their careers but also their personal lives. Below are skills you can learn or improve on in a communications degree program.

Research and Analysis

Many of the jobs you can get with a communications degree use the skills of research and analysis. The field of journalism relies heavily on a journalist’s ability to gather accurate, unbiased information from reliable sources. Research and analysis also come into play in public relations while representing a client and in advertising and marketing while developing or improving marketing strategies.

Written Communication

Written communication is an important skill that potentially all career paths stemming from a communications degree will value. Written communication is essential if you decide to work in public relations since your primary task is to craft a positive public image for clients; your words and tone must align with that image. Having superior written communication skills may help you discover what jobs you can get with a communications degree, whether it’s a job in public relations, journalism, marketing, film or another career path.

Public Speaking

Public speaking is a skill that’s vital to success in public relations; you may need to speak in front of large groups of people to mitigate public relations crises, for example. It’s also a skill that may be helpful in your personal life or if you’ve ever been interested in pursuing a career in politics or advocacy.

Proficiency in Digital Media

Having an in-depth understanding of digital media has become essential, especially as new technologies become more and more intertwined with the professional realm. Proficiency in digital media is especially important if you pursue a career as a multimedia journalist, in which you tell your story using multiple media types on various platforms.

Explore What You Can Do With a Communications Degree

Whether you’re interested in journalism, social media, film, marketing or other related fields, furthering your education with a communications degree can help get you started on the right path. During your communications degree program, you can learn about digital photography, web design, advertising copywriting, press relations, multimedia journalism, documentary filmmaking and more. Discover how pursuing an online BA in Digital Media and Communication at Hilbert College Global can help you develop these and other important skills that can prepare you for a career in communications.

Sources:

Payscale, Average Social Media Manager Salary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Media and Communication Occupations

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Public Relations Specialists