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Careers with a Communication Degree

June 10, 2013

By knowing how to effectively listen to stakeholder needs and demands and communicate new solutions, professionals with proficiency in written and oral communications are finding tremendous career opportunities helping businesses keep pace with competition.

A communication degree is a valuable credential that supplements a variety of business careers. Jobs with a communication degree are exciting and fast-paced.

Communication Careers

The following careers are popular and fast-growing jobs with a communication degree:

  • Advertising manager: Speak to consumer interests and create effective communications that drive sales and profits with a career as an advertising manager. Advertising managers work in a fast-paced and exciting environment and must be able to communicate effectively as well as think creatively and strategically. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 10 percent job growth within the decade for advertising managers, with an average annual salary of $129,380.
  • Broadcast news analyst: Stay on top of the news cycle with a career as a broadcast news analysts. These communications professionals report local, national and international news and keep the public informed via television, radio, newspapers and Internet sites. They may also research news topics, pitch stories to editors, conduct interviews, and update news stories. Although they are often found in radio and television broadcasting, a number of them are self-employed or work in educational services.These professionals make a median annual salary of $40,910.
  • Editors: Improve the quality of media. Editors are responsible for reviewing and editing written content. They may be charged with proofreading, verifying facts, working with writers to increase the quality of their product, rewriting text, promoting content, preparing materials for print, and a host of other duties. They may work in any number of professional areas, such as advertising, journalism, professional and scientific services, religious organizations, literary agencies, and more. Editors make a median annual salary of $66,660.
  • Event planner: Create a big splash at your next event when you choose a career as an event planner. Event planners work with clients to coordinate event details that orchestrate a memorable occasion. They may be responsible for meeting with clients, soliciting bids for venues, coordinating services such as food and entertainment, monitoring activities during the event, and a host of other duties. Event planners earn an average annual salary of more than $48,290 with job growth expected to increase 11 percent by 2026.
  • Public relations manager: Connect with your community and promote a positive image of your organization. Public relations managers plan and organize the creation of material that enhance communication and messaging for their clients. They may write press releases, help their clients communicate with the public, create advertising or promotional programs, and a host of related duties.The job outlook is strong for public relations managers, with the BLS reporting a 10 percent growth in employment through the next decade. Public relations managers can expect to earn an average annual salary of $111,280.
  • Technical writer: Streamline instructional information and processes through effective communications. Also called technical communicators, technical writers must translate complex ideas into easy-to-understand instructions for users. They are responsible for determining the needs of users, selecting appropriate mediums for their audience, and writing readable content for technical documents such as how-to guides, instruction manuals, or journal articles. The BLS reports an 11 percent growth in jobs through 2026, with the average annual salary reaching more than $70,930.