What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree? 40+ Career Options to Explore

A master’s degree could be the credential you need to advance your career — or change it entirely. It could help you expand your options and boost your confidence, and it can help you enhance your skill set and deepen your knowledge.

But exactly what kinds of careers can a master's degree help you pursue? Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) academic leaders weighed in on options to consider.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Master’s Degree?

The type of master’s degree you pursue can help you zero in on the jobs that interest you and align with your skill set. The most beneficial master’s degree for you will depend on your end goal.

Here are some roles by field.

Business

Because business is essential to every industry, Dr. Jessica Rogers, a business author and senior associate dean of business at SNHU, said every sector can benefit from professionals with business skills. This means you can think about what you most enjoy — or perhaps have experience in — and pair it with a general or specialized business degree.

For instance, Rogers said, a master’s degree in business can help you become a:

• Leader in a healthcare clinic
• Manager of a horse training facility
• Marketer in a publishing house
• Operations manager in a biotech lab

Opting for a specialized business degree can help you prepare for a specific facet of business, such as digital marketing, accounting or project management, according to Rogers.

“That said, a general MBA or business degree can still be powerful if you want to stay flexible across roles and industries,” she said.

Education

If you’re an educator, you may be thinking about your next career move. A specialized Master of Education (MEd) can be helpful for advancement, according to Dr. Danny Tanguay, an academic dean of education and first-year experience at SNHU. It can signal to employers that you’re committed to growth and development in the field, he noted.

Tanguay said MEd graduates can consider roles such as:

• Curriculum specialist
• Educational consultant
• Instructional coach or designer
• School administrator
• Special education coordinator

A master’s degree might be required or preferred for roles such as department head, administrator or curriculum coordinator, Tanguay said — and it can also position you for work in student support, assessment and instructional design within higher education.

“In education, advanced degrees can ... open doors for career progression and deepen your effectiveness as a professional,” Tanguay said. “Moreover, a master’s degree (can equip) you with deeper expertise, professional confidence and opportunities for leadership roles that influence systemic change within schools and universities.”

Liberal Arts

Because liberal arts master’s programs can include advanced study in fields from communication to history and creative writing to English, the career opportunities are versatile. The master's degree you get should connect to your goals and the area in which you wish to gain specialized knowledge, according to Dr. Carole Beauchemin, an executive director of liberal arts at SNHU.

She said you might consider the following master’s degrees and job pairings:

• Communication: Communications manager, marketing manager, PR director, social media strategist
• Creative writing: Author, creative content writer, screenwriter
• English: Content manager, editor, grant or proposal writer, technical writer
• History: Archivist, museum curator, policy analyst

Or you might choose to teach the next generation of liberal arts professionals as a college instructor. It’s important to note that you may need a terminal degree in your field to teach at the college level. (SNHU does not currently offer terminal degrees in communication, English or history.)

“Taking the time to think about the end goal will be a big help in narrowing your focus on (the) program, school and modality that best fits,” Beauchemin said.

Nursing

Licensing is essential in nursing, and education is necessary for licensing. Some specialized advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) roles become available with the help of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

According to Dr. Lyndsay Goss, a director of continuing professional development in nursing at SNHU, an MSN can prepare you for the following roles, among others:

• Clinical nurse leader
• Nurse educator
• Nurse executive
• Nurse practitioner

“Pursuing a master’s degree in nursing offers numerous benefits,” Goss said. “Among the most significant are enhanced professional fulfillment, expanded career opportunities and the ability to make a broader impact on patient care and community health.”

Social Sciences

If understanding people is your passion, you might pursue a master’s degree in social sciences. Dr. Nick Dominello, a senior associate dean of social sciences at SNHU, said master’s degrees in psychology and criminal justice are particularly valuable right now.

He said some of the top jobs in these fields include:

• Behavioral health specialist
• Case manager
• Correctional, probation or parole officer
• Criminal investigator
• Policy analyst

If you’re considering using your master’s to change careers to the social sciences, Dominello said case management, probation or parole services and victim advocacy might be the way to go.

“These roles typically lean into life experience and a desire to help others, qualities that career changers often disclose when pursuing a graduate degree,” he said.

STEM

Within the ever-evolving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, a master’s degree can help position you for advanced technical positions and leadership roles, according to Dr. Susan McKenzie, a senior associate dean of STEM programs at SNHU.

She said jobs focusing on technology, data, healthcare and the environment are especially important in today’s market. She recommended roles in:

• AI and applied machine learning
• Cybersecurity
• Data analytics, science and engineering
• Health informatics and public health data science
• Renewable energy and climate science

Read more: Top Careers With a Master’s Degree

What Can a Master’s Degree Do For You?

While the outcomes of a master’s degree can be unique to each graduate, there are a handful of ways they can help position you for success. According to McKenzie, a master’s degree can help you:

• Demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning
• Gain advanced credentials and certifications
• Increase your earning potential and promotion opportunities*
• Access pathways to specialized positions
• Qualify for leadership and management positions

If you’re not sure if you should get a master’s degree, do your research.

Start by exploring job descriptions that interest you and reviewing their qualifications. Talk to professionals in those types of roles to learn about their career paths. Really consider how the advanced credential aligns with your personal and professional goals.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette '18 '22G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she fulfills her love of learning daily through conversations with professionals across a range of fields. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing at SNHU’s campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, and followed her love of storytelling into the online Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn.