Why Study Communication? Jobs for Master's in Communication Graduates

If you're looking to advance or shift your career and already have your bachelor's degree, moving forward with a master's may be your next step. A master's in communication offers you a more focused education, advancing you toward your personal and professional goals.

Communication is utilized in every field, and a communication degree can prepare you for employment across broad industries, such as marketing, journalism, media relations and more. Your master's in communication can provide you with a specialized education to prepare you for advancement in your current job or help you change careers.

Master's in communication graduate Rachel Bishop '20G, who works in content marketing, knows the importance of having your degree.

"Having a master's degree not only shows that you've mastered the fundamentals in the field, but also that you had the motivation, the discipline and the courage to set a hefty goal and work hard until you achieved it," she said.

A master’s degree can help you to stand out among your peers in your career field and could be the catalyst that gets you ahead.

What Do People Do With a Master's in Communication Degree?

The knowledge and skills you’ll learn during your communication degree can provide you with the tools needed to work across various industries. You can learn skills such as thinking both critically and creatively, and how to be a better communicator through your written, oral and visual communication.

Bryan Womack '15G, a communication graduate with a background in news reporting, said through his experience that communication skills are key in a work environment — no matter how big or small your role may be. Being able to properly communicate, especially in groups, is important.

Employment in the media and communication field is is projected to grow about 4% from 2023 to 2033, with an average of 109,500 job openings each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).* The median annual salary for workers in this field was $70,300 in 2024, BLS reports, which is higher than the median yearly salary of $49,500 for all other fields of employment.*

"I've seen a lot of openings for typical communication roles, such as communication specialists, outreach managers and so on," said Bishop.* "Many companies will happily accept applications from people who have earned a communication degree — which, again, is a testament to how versatile the degree is."

Some popular careers for people with a communication degree include:

Journalist

As a journalist or a reporter, your main job is to communicate and share news stories with the public. You'll need to know how to do proper research, analyze and interpret information, interview people and write news stories while staying up to date with current events and world trends.

BLS reports, in 2024, news analysts, reporters and journalists earned a median salary of $60,280.*

While print journalism continues to be a source of news for some, many are turning to digital formats. Find out what new media is and how many are now consuming information.

Marketing Manager

A marketing manager's role is to build an awareness of a company by creating and executing strategies to meet customer needs while also looking for new ways to maximize profits. They evaluate the demand for an organization's services or products, how they can best market their own goods, and how the company compares against its competitors.

With expected 8% job growth through 2033, marketing managers earned a median salary of $161,030 in 2024, according to BLS.*

A master's degree in marketing could also be beneficial if you're targeting this role, but if there's one thing to know about marketing career paths, it's that they can be atypical.

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations (PR) specialists ensure an organization's public image is positive and that the brand value remains intact. They write media releases, draft speeches and social media posts, respond to the media and more.

According to BLS, in 2024 the median salary for public relations specialists was $69,780, with a 6% job growth projected through 2033.*

If you want to learn more about how professionals help organizations protect and uphold their brand every day, learn more about what PR is.

Postsecondary Teacher

A postsecondary teacher, or professor, can teach several different academic subjects, typically at a public or private university. They create instructional plans for the students, design lessons and teach courses while staying up to date with the latest trends and innovations in their field.

BLS reports, in 2024, postsecondary teachers earned a median salary of $83,980, and there is also an 8% projected job growth in this field through 2033.*

Postsecondary teachers traditionally work on a campus, although there is also an opportunity to build your teaching career online. If that interests you, learn more about how to teach online.

Social Media Manager

Working in this role, you're a brand's voice through social media. You represent your company across different social media channels, communicating with the public through posts, comments, videos and more.

If social media management interests you, you might want to learn about seven other types of digital marketing that could benefit from solid communication skills.

Technical Writer

Technical writers are needed in various industries, but they typically are focused on technology, computer and scientific fields. Technical writers prepare how-to guides, manuals and other documents sharing technical information.

The median salary earned for technical writers in 2024 was $91,670, reports BLS, with a 4% job growth projected through 2033.*

There are a variety of other directions you could take a writing career, too, including as a copywriter, content writer and editor. Find out how to become a writer.

How a Master's in Communication Can Impact a Career

Elanna Rubenstein '20G decided to pursue a master's degree in communication at SNHU after a colleague shared her positive experience with the university.

"When I decided to go for my master's, I wasn’t sure where it would take me," said Rubenstein, who works as a coverage producer for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). "Was it going to be a fruitless endeavor? Or was it going to be life-changing? It was life-changing for sure."

In the years since they finished their degree, their career has evolved — from an office setting to a virtual newsroom to NFL fields — and they've also become a manager, and been a part of an Emmy award-winning team. Through it all, Rubenstein has drawn on what they learned during their degree program.

"I leaned on my knowledge and understanding of public relations, media technology and communication management as I navigate the various communication styles and methods that are used in the field versus in the office," they said.

Rubenstein's greatest takeaway from the master's in communication program was that they could do anything they put their mind to with a bit of time management and the ability to use technology and adapt.

Rubenstein said their decision to earn a master's degree at SNHU helped position them for personal and professional growth in the years to come.

Types of Communication Degrees

Within whatever industry you choose to work for, you'll need to convey the proper communication skills through your research, writing, critical thinking and analytical skills, whether interacting with your coworkers or the public. A bachelor's degree in communication can provide you with those tools and a solid foundation to begin your career.

After you've completed your bachelor's in communication, the next step in your education would be to move forward with a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication, which will allow you to build on the knowledge and skills you already learned during your bachelor's education.

"Through a master's in communication (program), you'll have the opportunity to practice real-world experiences as an individual while building a strong foundation rooted in ethics, best practices and current research," said Harley Hedlund Tennant '21G, a communication graduate who now works as a communication manager. "By enhancing the experience, knowledge and credibility of individuals, the program helps professionals best position themselves for success."

During your MA degree program, you'll often have the opportunity to choose a concentration. "Find a few complementary areas of communications you enjoy and have a passion for and build your skills in these areas," said Learning and Performance Improvement Consultant Tim Reed '16G.

MA in Communication concentrations can include:

• New Media and Marketing: In a more focused education than your Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, a concentration in new media and marketing at a master's level can give you the skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with others. You'll learn to work with those in your industry and outside of it through various channels such as organic marketing, social media and more.
  
  
• Public Relations: A public relations concentration when getting your MA degree will immerse you in the work that organizations do to build and maintain their brand value. You'll learn to manage the communication flow between brand and audience through traditional and digital media platforms.

Having the option to choose a more specialized degree that best suits you and your career goals can help make you more marketable to future employers.

Womack said being one of the only people in previous workplaces with a master's has greatly benefited him. According to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 14% of U.S. adults age 25 and older have an advanced degree, such as a master's degree, so having that degree could help give you a competitive edge in your career.

Is an MA in Communication Worth It?

While a master's degree can help you stand out to employers and provide you with a more specialized education than a bachelor's degree, is a master's in communication worth it?

In a word, yes.

Reed said the skills he learned from his MA in Communication degree have been both marketable and transferable throughout his career.

A master's in communication can provide you flexibility when choosing, advancing in or changing your career in the communication field.

And with the rate of change in communication and marketing fields, Tennant said there are many opportunities to consider. "If your personal and professional goals align with the master's in communication course outcomes, I'll always recommend exploring it," she said.

Not only can obtaining your degree help you get into the field, but having advanced communication skills can help you in many other aspects of life. "Effective communications provide impact, efficiency and clarity. Ineffective communications distort, confuse and can cause negative impacts," said Sue Ryan '16G, an inspirational coach, speaker and educator.

According to Ryan, getting her online degree enabled her to become a confident and effective communicator. It also gave her the tools to structure the way she messages and speaks with people using different mediums and platforms depending upon her targeted audience.

What is the Value of a Master's in Communication?

Communication is ever-evolving. Whether you're already a communications professional or new to the field, getting your master's degree can help you expand your knowledge and develop relevant skills.

"Having a master's degree not only shows that you've mastered the fundamentals in the field, but also that you had the motivation, the discipline and the courage to set a hefty goal and work hard until you achieved it," said Bishop. "That level of grit is a trait that employers tend to look for."

Your master's in communication allows you to learn about your communication styles and provides you with the tools needed to develop new communication habits in your personal and professional life.

"Communication applies to almost every industry, role and issue faced in today's world, and that is exciting," said Tennant. "The demand for credible and reliable communication professionals can only grow and become of greater value."

*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.

Alexa Gustavsen ’21 is a content facilitator and writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Based in New Hampshire, she completed her bachelor's in creative writing and English on campus at NH. Currently, she is pursuing her master's in marketing online at the university. Connect with her on LinkedIn.