What Can I Do With a Major in Journalism?
In school, journalism majors develop strong research and writing skills. These skills are incredibly useful in the working world, and have applications in hundreds of different occupations.
Nearly half of all journalism majors are employed in occupations that are very closely related to their area of study. These occupations include writers, editors, public relations specialists, photojournalists, and other similar occupations. The easiest way to break into these types of occupations is by getting an internship during college. Swing by your college’s career center to learn about the internship opportunities available to you.
Just about one quarter of people who study in journalism work in an occupation that isn’t at all related to their major. Many of these graduates work in marketing, sales, and administrative positions (like clerks, receptionists, and secretaries). The truth is, just about every employer in every industry has opportunities that are relevant for people with a journalism degree.
People who major in journalism make a mean salary of $50,000 per year, which is slightly less than the mean salary of all college graduates combined. However, these numbers don’t tell the whole story. Entry level journalism positions don’t normally pay very well, but more senior positions do. As their careers progress, people with a degree in journalism actually earn more than the mean salary for all college graduates.
Career Options for Journalism Majors
Below is a list of common career choices for people who major in journalism. This is not a comprehensive list, as journalism majors go on to do many interesting and wonderful things. However, it should give you a good idea of the types of work most commonly available to people who study journalism.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Median Hourly | Current jobs | Outlook | Required Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising Manager | $83,890 | $40.33 | 44,640 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $45,350 | $21.80 | 166,830 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Archivist | $45,200 | $21.73 | 6,300 | Normal | Master’s degree |
| College Professor | $62,050 | $29.83 | 1,756,000 | Good | Graduate Degree |
| Copywriter | $49,060 | $23.59 | 151,680 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Editor | $51,470 | $24.75 | 129,600 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Elementary School Teacher | $51,660 | $24.84 | 1,549,520 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| High School Teacher | $53,230 | $25.59 | 1,109,500 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $48,800 | $23.46 | 179,520 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Lawyer | $112,760 | $54.21 | 759,190 | Good | Law Degree |
| Librarian | $54,500 | $26.20 | 159,940 | Normal | Master’s Degree |
| Marketing Manager | $112,800 | $54.23 | 175,570 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Middle School Teacher | $51,960 | $24.98 | 659,460 | Good | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Photographer | $42,869 | $20.61 | 152,000 | Normal | On the job training |
| Public Relations Manager | $91,810 | $44.14 | 56,720 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Public Relations Specialist | $52,090 | $25.04 | 258,100 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Social Service Manager | $57,950 | $27.86 | 130,560 | Normal | Bachelor’s degree |
| Social Worker | $42,480 | $20.42 | 350,500 | Good | Bachelor’s degree |
| Technical Writer | $63,280 | $30.42 | 48,910 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Writer / Author | $55,420 | $26.64 | 145,900 | Normal | Bachelor’s Degree |
