What you can do with a communication’s degree and how to market your skills to employers

According to LinkedIn, communication is one of the most in-demand skills employers look for during the hiring process. Professionals in just about any industry can increase their employability and earning potential by boosting their communication skills — but, first, they have to figure out how to market those skills to employers. Undergraduate and graduate programs in communication teach professionals how to become skilled communicators, but learning how to sell soft skills like communication during a job interview is a skill in itself, and some employers might not immediately understand the breadth and depth of what communication programs teach.  

This article will explore the value of a communication degree and how to market that value to employers. We’ll cover what you can do with a communication degree, the kinds of roles a communication degree makes you eligible for and how to increase your earning potential with a communication degree.  

What can I do with a master’s or bachelor’s in communication? 

Unlike some degree programs that focus on helping students develop a specific technical skill, most communication programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels teach a broad range of soft and technical skills that can be applied to many different career paths — from media, marketing and public relations to government, law and data analysis. This can be daunting to some students, but, according to Forbes, developing strong communication skills can serve you in just about any role.  

For professionals who want a clear career pathway, choosing a concentration can help narrow the focus on a communication degree and give you the skills you need to work in a specific industry or role. Many communication programs include a variety of concentration options, including Purdue University’s online Master of Science in Communication, which offers industry-aligned concentrations in branding and marketing communication, digital media and communication technology, strategic communication / public relations, communication leadership/management, health communication and sports communication. 

Concentrations like these can help you narrow the focus of your studies if you have a specific career goal in mind, like being a sports broadcaster, a medical writer or a digital analyst. If your career goals are broader, a communication degree is also a great choice, because it exposes you to a variety of skills — like writing, public speaking and research — that can qualify you for many different jobs.  

Earning a bachelor’s in communication can also provide a great pathway to becoming an educator, getting into law school, getting a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or getting a master’s or doctoral degree in a communication-related field. When asked in a job interview why you chose to do a degree program in communication, it’s important to note that communication programs provide a strong foundation of critical thinking skills that can be used to jumpstart lucrative careers in numerous industries — the sky is the limit. 

What jobs can I get with a communication degree?  

While professionals with communication degrees work in all kinds of fields, some of the more common fields that hire graduates, according to Indeed, include marketing, copywriting and editing, brand strategy, social media management, content development, public relations, event management, digital strategy and analytics, human resources, and journalism.  

Jobs in these fields typically require that candidates have a bachelor’s in communication or a related field, though some may require a master’s in communication. Earning a master’s can help professionals become more qualified for leadership and management positions, such as product marketing manager, communications manager and director of public relations. 

One of the biggest benefits of earning a communication degree is the broad range of skills that communication programs teach. When applying to jobs with this degree, it’s important to emphasize both the soft skills — like communication, teamwork and leadership — and the technical skills — like data analysis, market research and strategic branding — that these programs teach. Possessing a combination of soft and technical skills is linked to workforce success and discussing both soft and technical skills during a job interview can make a candidate more competitive. 

What are the highest paying jobs (or salary ranges for different jobs) related to a communication degree? 

Because the jobs communication graduates do vary widely, so do their salaries. According to The Best Schools, the median salaries for communication grads range from $57,500 to $157,620. What salary to expect depends on the industry you’re in and how much experience you have in your role.  

According to ZipRecruiter, having a communication degree can qualify you for top roles like vice president of communications, vice president of corporate communications, director of communications and director of public relations. Additionally, communication professionals who work in medical settings often have higher-than-average salaries. Earning an advanced degree and having extensive management and leadership experience can help qualify you for these higher-level roles, whereas concentrating in health communication or a related field can help qualify you for medical communication roles.  

Careers in marketing (including product marketing and digital marketing) can also be lucrative, as well as roles in digital media and strategy. Working as a broadcaster or journalist, especially for a major publication or media company, can also lead to higher-than-average salaries.  Further, using a communications degree to jumpstart a career in law, business or politics often pays off in the long run.  

Explore Purdue’s online communication master’s degrees and choose a concentration with a strong career pathway  

Purdue University’s online communication master’s degrees give professionals industry-ready skills that they can use to expand their career horizons and earning potential. Choose from two fully online programs: the Master of Science in Communication and the master’s in corporate training and communication. Plus, customize your degree by adding a concentration and/or graduate certificate in: strategic communication management, communication and leadership, branding and marketing communication, health communication, sports communication, and digital media and communication technology. Learn more at the programs’ webpage.