Having a career in communications is one of the most dynamic paths available, with various options spanning almost every industry. There is also high-earning potential as you gain more experience and additional education.
Suppose you are looking for how you might influence, entertain, and inform others by creating the best possible media content for an audience. In that case, there are options in communication careers that are marketable and have a good salary range.
Some people might not like this career because it’s not stress-free. But other exciting things should make you take a degree or further in this career, so you should continue reading.
We will get right into marketable careers in communications. Meanwhile, go through the table of contents below for an overview.
Table of contents
- What Is Communication?
- Why Pause A Career In Communications?
- Communication Career Outlook
- What Is The Average Salary For a Marketable Communications Career?
- Career Guide To The Path In Communications Major
- Marketable Careers In Communications
- List Of The Best Schools Offering Communication Major
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What Is Communication?
Communication means sharing. It is creating and sharing ideas, information, views, facts, feelings, etc., among people to reach a common understanding. Communication is the key to the Directing function of management.
Communication is also fundamental to the existence and survival of humans and an organization. Let us use the working space as an example.
A manager may be highly qualified and skilled, but if he does not possess good communication skills, all his ability becomes irrelevant. A manager must communicate his directions effectively to the subordinates to get the work done correctly from them.
Why Pause A Career In Communications?
Having a career in communication is one good thing that can happen to a person. Have you noticed that the best communicators are confident listeners when speaking to large groups?
Communication professionals enjoy interacting with people and know how to engage audiences. They think creatively and can express complex ideas through written documents and oral presentations.
That is why companies/industries hire communication professionals for tasks like building brands, marketing, community engagement, medical writing, and sports reporting.
What is the Cost of Getting a Communication Degree?
The cost of a communication degree can vary depending on several factors, such as the country or region of study, the type of institution, and the specific program. Here is an overview of the approximate costs associated with obtaining a communication degree:
- Tuition fees: Tuition fees for communication degree programs vary widely, depending on the institution and location. In the United States, for example, the average tuition cost for a communication degree program at a public university is around $10,000-$15,000 per year. In contrast, private universities can cost upwards of $30,000 per year. In other countries, such as Canada or Europe, tuition fees may be lower, but it is important to research specific institutions to determine their costs.
- Books and materials: Communication degree programs may require students to purchase textbooks, course materials, and other resources. The cost of these materials can vary, but students should expect to spend a few hundred dollars per semester on books and supplies.
- Living expenses: Students pursuing a communication degree must also cover living expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. These costs can vary depending on the location and lifestyle of the student.
- Other fees: In addition to tuition fees, students may also need to pay additional fees such as application fees, student services fees, and technology fees.
The cost of obtaining a communication degree can vary widely depending on the specific program and institution. It is essential to research and compares costs before choosing a program to ensure it is financially feasible. Scholarships, grants, and other financial aid options may also be available to help offset the costs of a communication degree program.
Check this: Top 10 Marketable Careers in Public Health | 2024
Communication Career Outlook
Due to the field’s Versatility, Communication careers are in high demand. From the highlights, the market growth and the rise of social media websites are reasons for future growth in communication positions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 7% job growth for public relations specialists, 6% for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers, and 7% for technical writers between 2019 and 2029.
What Is The Average Salary For a Marketable Communications Career?
If you’re a great communicator, you’ll make a great employee. The salary of people with communication majors can vary based on the education level and the job’s nature.
However, the following table provides average salaries for some popular communication careers. (Source: PayScale)
Job Title | Most Common Major | Mid-Career Pay |
Executive Producer | Communication | $108,000 |
Public Relations (PR) Director | Communication | $93,200 |
Marketing communications Director | Communication | $88,500 |
Communications Director | Communication | $85,500 |
Social Media Director | Communication | $80,600 |
Media Supervisor | Communication | $77,300 |
Public Relations (PR) Manager | Communication | $76,800 |
Content Marketing Manager | Communication | $75,700 |
Video Producer | Communication | $61,800 |
Communications Associate | Communication | $54,000 |
Digital Marketing Coordinator | Communication | $49,600 |
Career Guide To The Path In Communications Major
An associate degree may be enough for some entry-level positions, but it will not typically allow you to ascend to managerial roles.
In general, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for careers with advancement potential, although leadership positions often require a master’s/doctoral degree and many years of experience.
So, here are steps to building a successful career in communication major.
- Enroll in an associate degree
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree
- Get a Master’s degree in Communication
- Pursue a Doctoral degree in Communication
An Associate Degree In Communication
An associate degree in communication is the first step toward finding a job or earning a bachelor’s degree. Students can sometimes complete an associate program while working full-time, especially if they enroll online.
The job you can do with this degree is Office Manager. The role of this position is to organize an office’s essential functions, such as scheduling meetings, ordering office equipment, and maintaining facilities.
So, as a Communication major, you can employ your problem-solving and analytical thinking skills in this position.
Salary: $48,560
Bachelor’s Degree in Communication
Most competitive communication positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s programs move beyond introductory courses and into more specialized areas, such as organizational communication, public relations, rhetorical analysis, and media communication.
Graduates with a bachelor’s in communication can find employment in different industries, leading to competitive salaries and the potential for career advancement.
You can do these things with a bachelor in communication: Communications Specialist, Public Relation Specialist, Marketing Communications Specialist, Online Marketing Content Writer, and Social Media Specialist.
These specialists develop and maintain an organization’s relationship with the public.
Salary: $52,320
Master’s Degree in Communication
Moving beyond having a bachelor’s degree, a master’s in communication explores advanced communication theory, preparing graduates for high-level analysis and overlooking an organization’s communication strategies.
Here are jobs you can do with a Master’s in Communication: Communication Director, Marketing Communications Manager, Public Relations Manager, Senior Copywriter, and Community Relations Manager.
These highly trained specialists organize and direct most aspects of an organization’s communication strategy.
Salary: $71,140
Doctoral Degree in Communication
A doctoral degree in communication typically prepares graduates for corporate research and academic positions.
Students interested in exploring the psychological, social, and economic processes underlying communication can pursue a doctorate.
After earning this degree, many communication majors enter academia, performing their own research and teaching classes.
What people with this degree do is Postsecondary Professors and Senior Researchers. Professors typically spend more time teaching and training the future and may spend more time on their research.
Salary: $88,120
You can also read this: Top 15 Careers In Finance That Are Marketable In 2024
Marketable Careers In Communications
There are a lot of careers in Communication that are marketable. In this section, we will be listing the best 10.
So sit back.
This is one of the hottest jobs for Millennials and Gen Z-ers. Social media managers are accountable for creating and relaying content in a fun, brand-consistent, digestible way, which takes skill and mastering communications principles.
To be a social media manager requires creativity, strategy, and precision to engage and mobilize your target audiences and elevate the organization for which you work!
Average Salary: $55,200
#2. Human Resources Specialist
Human resources professionals are responsible for communication-intensive organizational functions, including recruiting staff and orienting new employees.
Also, they organize training programs, convey policies to staff, educate employees about benefits, and create employee newsletters.
They use verbal communication skills nurtured by the communications major to counsel/advise employees and to interview candidates for jobs.
Average Salary: $54,000
#3. Reporter
Reporters have one of the most exciting gigs in the league. As a reporter, you proactively seek out newsworthy stories, interview relevant people, and function under deadlines.
This is the ideal career for the communications major who fears being chained to his or her desk for eight hours a day and wants hands-on, world experience with interesting people.
Average Salary: $48,000
#4. Brand Manager
Brand Manager develops business and communications objectives to build brand equity while furthering corporate goals. This highly collaborative role requires a high degree of competence and leadership.
Average Salary: $96,000
#5. Media Planner
Media planners have to be masters of both creativity and strategy, like most communication roles.
In this role, you would create campaigns through detailed research and analysis. You would be responsible for identifying target audiences, creating messaging, and deciding channels through which you will disseminate that message to maintain the newsworthiness of your organization beneficially
Average Salary: $54,014
#6. Health Educator
Health educators assess a target population’s health-related problems and needs and organize programs to address those issues.
One key component of their work is understanding the attitudes and perceptions of their constituents regarding health concerns. They must develop and present workshops and seminars geared toward their audience.
Average Salary: $55,220.
#7. Journalist
Journalists communicate stories on topics they develop or are given by editors to bring important news or issues to the forefront of our society. They work in various media such as podcasts, documentaries, newspapers, radio, online journals, blogs, and more.
Average Salary: $53,600
#8. News Anchor
News anchors are journalists that work for a television or other online source to deliver significant metro, state, national or international news. They are the face of a news organization and are responsible for providing information in an engaging, concise, and transparent fashion.
Average Salary: $70,800
#9. Event Coordinator
An event coordinator cooperates and organizes everything from catering, decorations, music, venue, and more. It takes a strong communicator and manager to be a successful event planner.
This is an excellent career for anyone who loves planning and management.
Average Salary: $50,700
#10. Interpreter and Translator
This is also an excellent career for someone passionate about helping others and language complexity. As an interpreter, you must think on your feet and progress discussions between parties using your unique skills.
Average Salary: $40,500
List Of The Best Schools Offering Communication Major
According to US News, here are a few of the best communication schools for graduate and undergraduate programs. Also, they are duly accredited.
- Harvard University.
- Columbia University.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Yale University.
- Stanford University.
- The University of Chicago.
- The University of Pennsylvania.
- California Institute of Technology.
- Adelphi University
- Abilene Christian University
FAQs
#1. Verbal Communication
#2. Non-Verbal Communication
#3. Written Communication
#4. Visual Communication
Yes, communication is a good degree and worth it for my students. It has a good salary range and offers enormous career opportunities.
Many communication careers require at least a bachelor’s degree, including public relations specialists and technical writers. A graduate degree allows professionals to ascend into managerial roles or teach postsecondary communication courses.
Conclusion
Committing, depth of knowledge, and skill set to pursue a communications degree is exciting.
So, we have put down the various exciting career paths in communication, and they’re all highly marketable. These should motivate you to pursue a career in communication as they are highly rewarding financially and makes you confident.
References
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