Communications majors can pursue work in public relations, marketing, human resources, journalism, writing and editing, media production, and business. The degree is versatile, but it does not guarantee a specific job or salary: employers hire for role-specific skills, experience, and, in some fields, further education or licensing.
What can you do with a communications degree?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data show how widely communications degree holders are distributed across occupations. In 2023, 23% worked in management occupations, 13% in business and financial operations, 11% in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media, 11% in sales, and 10% in office and administrative support. The remaining 32% worked in other occupational groups. These figures describe employed degree holders, not guaranteed outcomes for new graduates. BLS communications field-of-degree data
The best fit depends on the work you want to do: writing and editing, communicating with the public, researching audiences, supporting employees, reporting news, producing media, or coordinating business activity.
Jobs for communications majors to consider
| Career | Typical focus | What to know about entry |
|---|---|---|
| Public relations specialist | Managing an organization’s public image, writing media releases and speeches, responding to media requests, and monitoring social media. | A bachelor’s degree is typical; communications is a relevant field. Internships, portfolios, campus media, blogs, social media work, and leadership can help demonstrate ability. |
| Marketing or market research specialist | Promoting products or services, understanding audiences, and using research to inform marketing decisions. | Build research, analytics, and marketing skills in addition to communication strengths. Marketing manager roles are generally a later-career path, not an automatic first job after graduation. |
| Human resources specialist | Supporting recruiting, employee relations, and other workplace processes that depend on clear communication. | Requirements vary by employer and HR specialty; seek relevant coursework or experience alongside the degree. |
| Writer or author | Creating written material for audiences, organizations, or publications. | Relevant samples help show voice, accuracy, and ability to meet a brief. |
| Editor | Reviewing and revising written content for clarity, accuracy, and consistency. | Strong writing judgment and editing samples are useful evidence of readiness. |
| Journalist or reporter | Finding, verifying, and presenting news and information. | Reporting experience, such as work for campus media, can help establish research and deadline skills. |
| Technical writer | Making complex information easier for people to understand and use. | Build familiarity with the subject matter and tools relevant to the intended industry; a communications degree alone may not provide that expertise. |
| Producer or director | Planning and coordinating film, video, or other media production. | Production experience and a record of completed work matter; opportunities may depend on the medium and employer. |
| Business or management roles | Coordinating people, projects, operations, or organizational communication. | Many management positions require experience. BLS lists managers among occupations employing communications degree holders, but the degree itself does not establish eligibility for every management job. |
These are options, not an exhaustive ranking. BLS also lists occupations such as lawyers among those employing communications degree holders; that does not mean a communications bachelor’s degree replaces law school or licensing requirements.
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How to compare pay without mistaking medians for starting salaries
The BLS reported a $65,000 median wage for communications degree holders in 2023, compared with $70,000 across all fields. Separately, its May 2025 occupation-wide median annual wages include the figures below. The occupation medians cover workers in each profession, not just communications majors, and they are not entry-level salary estimates. The years and populations differ, so they are not direct like-for-like comparisons. BLS degree-holder data · BLS media occupation wage data · BLS public relations specialist data
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Public relations specialists | $74,750 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
| Editors | $77,920 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
| Film and video editors and camera operators | $75,100 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
| News analysts, reporters, and journalists | $62,200 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
| Technical writers | $90,390 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
| Writers and authors | $76,910 | BLS occupation-wide median, May 2025 |
For a personal salary estimate, compare current postings and local wage data for your target occupation and location. A national occupation median cannot tell you what a new graduate will earn in a particular city, industry, or employer.
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What the job outlook numbers do—and do not—show
BLS projections are estimates of employment trends, not promises of a job or a forecast for an individual graduate. The periods differ across the figures below, so read each date range with its projection.
- Public relations specialists: BLS projects 2% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 23,000 average annual openings. Most openings are attributed to workers leaving occupations or the labor force, rather than new jobs from growth alone. BLS PR outlook
- Marketing managers and market research analysts and marketing specialists: the BLS communications degree page lists 7% projected growth for 2024–34.
- Human resources specialists: the same page lists 6% projected growth for 2024–34.
- Producers and directors: the same page lists 5% projected growth for 2024–34. BLS communications field-of-degree data
How to choose a path that fits
- If you like public-facing work: explore PR, media relations, or journalism. Consider whether you prefer shaping an organization’s message or independently reporting news.
- If you enjoy sustained writing: compare writing, editing, and technical writing. Technical writing adds the challenge of learning complex subject matter and explaining it clearly.
- If you like research and measurable outcomes: look at marketing and market research roles, and strengthen your ability to interpret audience or campaign data.
- If you prefer internal communication and coordination: explore HR and business operations, where communication is directed toward employees, candidates, or teams.
- If you thrive on production deadlines: consider video, film, or other media production, where planning and collaboration are central.
Also compare the audience and setting: agency or client work, an in-house organization, government, education, healthcare, nonprofits, newsrooms, and production environments can involve very different routines.
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Preparation should match the role rather than rely on the degree title alone. For PR, BLS says a bachelor’s degree is typical and communications is a relevant field; internships may help. Campus newspapers, blogs, social platforms, leadership, and portfolios can also demonstrate ability. Employers’ requirements vary, and a portfolio is a practical way to present relevant examples—not a universal formal requirement. BLS public relations specialist profile
- Choose a target role family. Decide whether to prioritize writing, PR, marketing research, HR, reporting, or production.
- Build relevant samples. Depending on the role, examples might include a press release, campaign brief, newsletter, social post series, reported story, edited piece, production project, or audience analysis. Use only work you have permission to share.
- Get applied experience. Seek internships, student media assignments, volunteer communications work, or projects that let you practice real deadlines and collaboration.
- Develop complementary skills. Add research and analytics for marketing, reporting and verification for journalism, or subject-matter knowledge for technical writing.
- Search realistic entry titles. Coordinator, assistant, and specialist roles can be starting points, but titles and requirements differ across employers and job families.
- Tailor applications. Match your resume and selected work samples to the tasks in each posting rather than sending the same portfolio to every employer.
Career centers can help you identify internships and review applications. For example, Pitt Career Central’s communications careers guide discusses possible job titles; treat older pay and growth figures in career lists cautiously and use current BLS data for labor-market comparisons.
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