By Alexis Jade and Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza
If you’re earning a bachelor’s in sociology, you might think your career options look like this: a social work, academia, or politics. All great and rewarding careers, but your sociology degree can open you up to a long list of professions, so start exploring.
5 great jobs for sociology majors
1. Public health professional
There are public health professionals work for hospitals, insurance companies, vet offices, universities, and humanitarian organizations. Wherever you choose, your knack for data and critical thinking will be beneficial to your employer. Public health specialists and public health consultants make an average of $57,000 a year, but those with experience can make in the $90,000s. You can up your salary by getting a master’s in public health, or MPH.
2. Human resources professional
Human resources requires discernment, empathy, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills. You might listen to employee concerns and complaints, conduct exit interviews, help improve and maintain employee morale, help with benefits administration, and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Entry-level jobs in human resources can have you making an average of $48,500 per year, while HR directors bank an average of more than $100,000 annually.
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3. Real estate agent
Real estate agents enjoy flexible work hours, plenty of people contact, great pay, and the ability to work as little or as much as you want. You can work under a franchise, like Coldwell Banker or Keller Williams, or you can strike out on your own and become a business owner. In the U.S., real estate agents make an average of $52,000 per year, and more depending on the number of deals you close and the price tag on the real estate you represent.
4. Environmentalist
Environmentalists have titles like “chief sustainability officer” or “environmental consultant” and help companies and governments make environmentally sound choices. Environmental consultants make an average of $62,500 per year.
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5. Marketing professional
Marketing professionals make a career of understanding what people want. You might work as a marketing manager or director for a single company or you might find a job with an agency that represents a long list of clients. Sociology majors who enter the marketing field could design ad campaigns, manage client accounts, sell marketing services, plan and run social media accounts, or work in SEO, copywriting, or design. Entry-level jobs in this field can earn you about $50,000, while managers earn an average of $81,000, and chief marketing officers pull down $170,000.
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