Jobs for Master’s in Communication Graduates

If you’re looking to advance or shift your career and already have your bachelor’s degree, moving forward with a master’s may be your next step. A master’s in communication offers you a more focused education, advancing you toward your personal and professional goals.

Communication is utilized in every field, and a communication degree can prepare you for employment across broad industries, such as marketing, journalism, media relations and more. Your master’s in communication can provide you with a specialized education to prepare you for your current job or your desired career.

Master’s in communication graduate Rachel Bishop ’20G, who works as a content marketing manager for a software company, knows the importance of having your degree.

“Having a master’s degree not only shows that you’ve mastered the fundamentals in the field, but also that you had the motivation, the discipline and the courage to set a hefty goal and work hard until you achieved it,” she said.

A master’s degree can help you to stand out among your peers in your career field and could be the catalyst that gets you ahead.

What Jobs Can You Get with a Communications Degree?

The knowledge and skills you’ll learn during your communication degree can provide you with the tools needed to work across various industries. You can learn skills such as thinking both critically and creatively, and how to be a better communicator through your written, oral and visual communication.

Bryan Womack ’15G, WJZ 13 CBS News video editor and communication graduate, said through his experience that communication skills are key in a work environment – no matter how big or small your role may be. Being able to properly communicate, especially in groups, is important. 

The demand for employment in the media and communication field is rapidly changing and is projected to grow 14% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than average for other fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual salary for workers in this field was $62,240 in 2021, which is higher than the median yearly salary of $45,760 for all other fields of employment.

“I’ve seen a lot of openings for typical communication roles, such as communication specialists, outreach managers, and so on,” said Bishop. “Many companies will happily accept applications from people who have earned a communication degree—which, again, is a testament to how versatile the degree is.”

Some popular careers for people with a communications degree include:

• Journalists: As a journalist or a reporter, your main job is to communicate and share news stories with the public. You’ll need to know how to do proper research, analyze and interpret information, interview people and write news stories while staying up to date with current events and world trends. In 2021 journalists earned a median salary of $48,370, and there is projected to be a 6% job growth from 2020 to 2030.
• Marketing Manager: A marketing manager’s role is to build an awareness of the company by creating and executing strategies to meet customer needs while also looking for new ways to maximize profits. They evaluate the demand for an organization’s services or products, how they can best market their own goods, and how the company compares against its competitors. With expected 10% job growth through 2030, marketing managers earned a median salary of $133,380 in 2021.
• Public Relations Specialist: Public relations specialists ensure an organization’s public image is positive and that the brand value remains intact. They write media releases, draft speeches and social media posts, respond to the media and more. In 2021 the median salary for public relations specialists was $62,800, with an 11% job growth projected through 2030.
• Postsecondary Teacher: A postsecondary teacher, or professor, can teach several different academic subjects, typically at a public or private university. They create instructional plans for the students, design lessons and teach courses while staying up to date with the latest trends and innovations in their field. In 2021, postsecondary teachers earned a median salary of $79,640. There is also a 12% projected job growth in this field through 2030.
• Social Media Manager: Working in this role, you’re a brand’s voice through social media. You represent your company across different social media channels, communicating with the public through posts, comments, videos, and more. According to Indeed, social media managers earn an average salary of $55,884.
• Technical Writer: Technical writers are needed in various industries, but they typically are focused on technology, computer and scientific fields. Technical writers prepare how-to guides, manuals and other documents sharing technical information. The median salary earned for technical writers in 2021 was $78,060, with a 12% job growth projected through 2030. 

Types of Communication Degrees

Within whatever industry you choose to work for, you’ll need to convey the proper communication skills through your research, writing, critical thinking and analytical skills, whether interacting with your coworkers or the public. A bachelor’s degree in communication can provide you with those tools and a solid foundation to begin your career.

After you have completed your bachelor’s in communication, the next step in your education would be to move forward with a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication, which will allow you to build on the knowledge and skills you already learned during your bachelor’s education.

“Through a master’s in communication (program), you’ll have the opportunity to practice real-world experiences as an individual while building a strong foundation rooted in ethics, best practices and current research,” said Harley Hedlund Tennant ’21G, a communication graduate who now works as a communication manager. “By enhancing the experience, knowledge and credibility of individuals, the program helps professionals best position themselves for success.”

During your MA degree, you’ll often have the opportunity to choose a concentration. “Find a few complementary areas of communications you enjoy and have a passion for and build your skills in these areas,” said Learning and Performance Improvement Consultant Tim Reed ’16G.

MA in Communications concentrations can include:

• New Media and Marketing: In a more focused education than your bachelor of arts degree (BA), a concentration in new media and marketing at a master’s level can give you the skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with others. You’ll learn to work with those in your industry and outside of it through various channels such as organic marketing, social media and more. Learn more about what new media is.
• Public Relations: A public relations concentration when getting your MA degree will immerse you in the work that organizations do to build and maintain their brand value. You’ll learn to manage the communication flow between brand and audience through traditional and new digital media platforms. See what else you can do with a public relations degree.

Having the option to choose a more specialized degree that best suits you and your career goals can make you more marketable to future employers.

Womack said being one of the only people at his workplace having a master’s has greatly benefited him. Only 13.1% of U.S. adults have a master’s degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so having that degree can give you a competitive edge in your career.

According to Sue Ryan ’16G, an inspirational coach, speaker and educator, “Effective communications provide impact, efficiency and clarity. Ineffective communications distort, confuse and can cause negative impacts.”

Is a Master’s in Communication Worth it?

While a master’s degree can help you stand out to employers and provide you with a more specialized education than a bachelor’s degree, is a master’s in communications worth it?

In a word, yes.