The business world is vast. College courses give business majors a wealth of knowledge in areas like stats and finance, economics and communication. The field’s myriad options provide a great deal of opportunity, but all that can be unsatisfying if you’re unsure what path you’d like to take.
Check out these eight careers for business majors.
1. Visual merchandising manager
Visual merchandisers are the geniuses behind great in-store experiences. These managers are responsible for the layout and atmosphere of brick and mortar stores. They strategically arrange products and displays based on sales data, inventory, and seasonal promotions to maximize profits. The job requires both analytical skills and a keen eye for design. An entry-level visual merchandiser can expect to make about $32,000 and managers about $45,000.
2. Sales or account manager
Sales jobs get a bad rap, but it’s not necessarily all cold calls and commission chasing. At the right company and with the right approach, sales and account management can be about long-term business relationships.
Sales and account managers can work just about anywhere, from healthcare to software to candy. This job can also mean a great deal of travel depending on your industry and product.
The average salary for an account manager clocks in at $59,000 while account directors can pull down six figures, but with a commission-based model, there’s pretty much no limit to your earnings.
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3. Copywriter
Copywriters live somewhere between the creatives and analytical thinkers of the business world. They create website and landing page copy, ad copy, emails, product descriptions, sales collateral, white papers, and more.
Writers like these typically work in a company’s marketing department, for a creative agency, or choose to work as a freelancer and develop their own client list. Depending on the field and employer, you can expect to pull down an average of $60,000 per year.
4. Event planner
Event planners are highly detail-oriented multitaskers. They put all of their business knowledge to good use handling budgets, vendors, timing, and environment. You can expect a starting salary of about $50,000 and about $66,000 once you reach the director level.
As an event planner, you might work for a company organizing their marketing events, a hospitality group handling their events and conferences, an event venue coordinating parties and weddings and dinners, or even strike out on your own and start your own event business—and really use that business degree.
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5. Talent agent
Communication and negotiating skills are key here, not to mention an impeccable eye for talent and a natural inclination for networking. Talent agents represent athletes, actors, models, writers, and musicians, helping them gain visibility and find work opportunities. Talent agents bring in about $58,000 on average, but with experience and proper networking (and plenty of high-earning clients) a six-figure income is more than achievable.
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6. Logistics manager
Most business major will have to take a course on logistics and supply chain management at some point in their academic careers. Logistics professions and live by the mantra of having “the right thing, at the right place, at the right time.” Their mission is to get products made and to the customer while saving time and money and reducing waste.
Expect to earn around $66,000 a year in a logistics manager position, with potential to earn into the six figures as you gain experience.
7. Brand strategist
With an average starting salary of nearly $73,000 (brand directors make about $165,000) and the opportunity to use a wide range of technical and creative skills, this job can be a business major’s dream. Brand strategists commonly work on a company’s marketing team to uphold the brand’s reputation and develop methods to reach and grow the customer base.
Strategists conduct market research and analysis and align those findings with brand messaging, the website and digital presence, in-store experience, employee handbook, social media, logos and designs, PR materials.
8. Fundraiser
Fundraisers bring in money for nonprofit organizations and charities, academic institutions, and social or community organizations. This job requires a well-developed network, excellent people skills, and some adroit salesmanship. Professionals in this field might host events, schmooze donors, or apply for grants. Look for titles that include phrases like “annual giving,” “development,” and “community giving.” Entry-level fundraisers earn an average of $49,500 per year, while those with the title “director of annual giving” make an average of $62,000.
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