What are the most common sociology degree jobs? | Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• Sociologists can find sociology degree jobs in educational institutes, government and/or non-profit organizations, private sector corporate organizations, criminal justice, law enforcement, journalism, and research industries.
• BLS predicts a 5% increase in employment for sociologists by 2032.
• The Social Advocacy industry is the highest paying for sociologists.
• California is the state with the highest employment and highest pay scale for sociologists.
• Alumni networking and building a strong resume are important strategies to find jobs at entry or mid-senior level.
• PayScale reports an annual average salary for sociologists to be $68,025. Meanwhile, Salary.com reports the salary range for sociologists to be between $66,008 and $82,055.
• Sociology degree jobs and their salary range is affected by various factors including experience level, educational background, location, company size, and industry.

A sociology degree comes with varying potential and applications to the real or professional world. Whatever you will learn in your 2 to 4-year undergraduate program, you will find it applies to all aspects of human lives and societies. Consequently, it’s very hard to restrict or limit the scope of career opportunities for a sociology major. 

Reports by BLS have repeatedly reported that there will be a 5% increase in the overall employment outlook for sociologists by 2031. Therefore, these numbers are pleasing and encourage one to pursue a degree in this field of study. 

Besides, sociology opens doors to a diverse career pathway, but it also seems to have a minimal requirement for past-related experience when you apply for a new job. This is a huge plus point, especially for freshly graduated individuals, or people who might need to take a career break for any reason. 

By the end of your sociology degree, expect yourself to not only find a diversified pool of career opportunities, but also an excellent increase in your skills that include: 

• Research and writing
• Critical thinking
• People management
• Social advocacy
• Debating and communication
• Analytical skills 

Your anticipation over the prospects of Sociology degree jobs is justified. Without having you go through the anxiety continuously, let’s delve into the details of what sociology degree jobs might be up your alley. 

The biggest and most important question that arises in any young student’s mind while choosing an undergraduate degree is the future job prospects. This is a valid concern. 

Undoubtedly, all degrees have certain career pathways, and you must know the pathway for your chosen degree. However, sociology degree jobs do not have a linear or straightforward pathway as you might expect. 

Job market and career trends for a sociology undergraduate degree

Today, it is impossible for someone to deny the importance or relevance of a sociology degree, or suggest that the job market for this field will decline eventually.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, has done thorough research to analyze the growth in the past years, and also predict the likelihood of these trends for the future. 

So, according to BLS, the median salary, job outlook, and the top industries for Sociology graduates in 2023 were as follows:

Median Annual Wage for Sociologists (2023)	$101,770
Most Popular Jobs	Technical and scientific services
Job Outlook Growth (projected)	5% growth by 2032
Top Paying Industry for Sociologists (2023)	Social Advocacy
U.S. State with the Highest Employment for Sociologists (2023)	California

Highest paying industry for sociology graduates

Here, you will find a list of industries that are the highest paying for Sociology graduates:

Industry	Annual Mean Wage
Social Advocacy Organizations	$149,900
Management of Companies and Enterprises	$108,540
Scientific Research and Development Services	$107,770
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)	$95,410
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$95,080

What are the growing industries and emerging opportunities for sociology majors?

Matt Rafalow, an LA-based sociologist, Researcher, and social scientist at Google talked about how he first-hand experienced the changing trends for Sociologists in today’s day and age. 

Like most students, he also assumed that job opportunities with a Sociology degree might restrict him to a profession in the teaching or coaching industry. However, his knack for digital technology and the want to view technology from the lens of a sociologist landed him great success and job satisfaction. 

Moreover, new industries are coming up every day now. With rapid advancement in technology, new organizations, and business models will inevitably come up. Consequently, these new industries create jobs for all professions, and sparingly for Sociologists. 

Technology is evolving human behaviors and interactions. A small technological invention must be intervened by a Sociology professional who can apply theories, concepts, and understanding of society to a completely new and strange addition to human society.

Just like technology, human resources or HR careers are also a common pathway for sociology students. Additionally, this industry involves managing people, organizing and training groups of people, and evaluating people’s behaviors in those settings. 

Therefore, a sociology graduate will be able to apply all their learnings to this field. HR is also an evolving industry. Furthermore, it is now becoming a more independent, vocal, and staunch part of the business. Whereas earlier, it used to function as a support department and was mostly always there in the background. 

What are your entry-level career options when you get a bachelors in sociology?

Firstly, entry-level jobs for sociology students are diverse, yet demanding. Make sure whatever job you pick, you go with the intention to work hard and be flexible as per your job’s needs. 

When you are at an entry-level position in your career, the decisions you make regarding the first job or the first project you work on will affect your future prospects. Therefore, you might want to hop on board and start looking for entry-level jobs very early on in your academic journey. 

However, to make sure that you get good opportunities at the start of your career, its important that you enroll in the most esteemed colleges for a sociology degree.

While there can be endless possibilities of entry-level jobs for sociologists, here are some of the most common ones people have managed to land during their freshly graduated days.

Pro tip: start looking for jobs after your undergraduate in Sociology, networking in the professional sphere, and reach out to your alumni about job prospects after completing your first year!

Job Title	Job Description
Junior research assistant	Assist and manage research projects with senior sociologists
Educator at summer camps	Teach a variety of subjects for short periods to primary and middle schoolers
Data manager	Control, manage, and analyze data collected by the research team
Survey Assistant	Assist and manage surveys needed for a particular research project. Utilize one or more research methodologies
Organization training and development	Assist in planning and executing training programs for corporate employees under supervision of Organization Development (OD) managers
State-level social work	Observe, assess, and identify a problem with the assigned case, followed by a treatment plan that aligns with sociological concepts
Junior caseworker	Help a social case (family, child, parent) gain access to rightful resources in accordance with law and legalities

Tips for finding entry-level sociology degree jobs

As an entry-level candidate in the industry, you might find yourself getting lost or underwhelmed. Therefore, applying for the right job as a starter definitely requires some time and getting used to it. 

Additionally, most entry-level candidates also face the struggle of being labeled “inexperienced” by most companies. Keep in mind that you are not alone in this, and there are definitely ways to go about it. 

Here are some tips to help you find entry-level Sociology degree jobs:

Start small with internships and part-time sociology degree jobs

Firstly, it’s impossible for you to land a job that does not require any hands-on experience. Even entry-level jobs these days are fiercely competitive, so employers choose candidates who have had any experience to showcase.

In this scenario, it is highly recommended that you look for internships, part-time work, volunteer work, or contractual positions. This kind of work allows you to gain experience, develop new skills, and also discover what you truly are interested in. It could shape your job preferences. 

Besides, if you display hard work, dedication, and all the qualities of a good employee during part-time jobs or internships, the employer might just offer you a full-time role. 

Connect with alumni

Secondly, the school alumni reflect an important picture of where Sociology graduates end up once they are done with school. While you are at college, start early and network with your seniors. By the time you have graduated and are looking for entry-level jobs as a Sociology graduate. You can connect with the alumni and see what they are up to.

Today, it is extremely easy to stay connected and updated about who is doing what. Use platforms like LinkedIn to keep in touch and see what their professional journey is like. Connecting with them might help you get a referral, or they could inform you about a job opening that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. 

Build a strong resume

Thirdly, do no underestimate the value of a good resume. Of course, the first thing that comes in contact between you and a potential employee is the resume. The resume you send out makes or breaks the deal for you. You need to make sure that the resume has all the necessary information, has easy-to-read text as employers have limited time and attention, and is tailored for the particular job. 

Visit career fairs

Lastly, most schools and colleges host career fairs. Most of the time, you will find these career fairs take place during the last year or last semester. This can be helpful in landing you an entry-level job months before you have graduated. 

Not only that, but these fairs are also great places to start networking with professionals and potential employers. It also gives you a chance to see the top names in the industry and explore what employers seem like the best options for you.

Are there internship opportunities for sociology degree students?

A BA or BS in Sociology from any college or school will manage to get you very few jobs that have “sociologist” in the designation. With a Sociology degree, you will most likely be getting into jobs that are more connected with liberal arts and social sciences than just any one particular field of study -in this case, Sociology. 

Therefore, it is likely that you will be competing with students and candidates from a variety of fields of study. As a result, you must have presentable skills that can convince the employer that you will add value to their business.

An internship is the best way to get hands-on experience and develop skills, as well as understand your job preferences, and a chance to network in professional capacities. 

According to BLS, some entry-level jobs for Sociologists require a Masters or Postgraduate degree. With an undergraduate Sociology degree, an internship will help you get admission to better graduate programs.

Types of sociology internships

Firstly, there are numerous types of internships available. 

• Paid internships
• Unpaid internships
• Part-time
• Contractual
• Internships leading to a job
• For undergrads
• For fresh graduate
  

Applying for internships

Before you start aplying for internships, make sure you have all the following factors and resources in place:

• A tailored resume for the opportunity
• A cover letter 
• An active contact number and email
• Be willing to give an interview
• Mention any and all Sociology workshops and seminars attended
• Recommendation letter (some employers might require)
  

Where to find sociology internships?

There are many avenues for finding sociology degree internships. So, to find Sociology internships, you may utilize the following mediums: 

• The sociology department of your school or college
• Career fairs at college
• Company websites 
• Online job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed
• Professional college association websites 
• Speak to alumni
• Network with college faculty
  

Are there sociology degree jobs in government and non-profit organizations?

Some of the most successful Sociologists have found jobs and career pathways in government-run organizations. This is because most of these organizations are immensely relevant to what an undergraduate sociology degree teaches to its students. 

Additionally, most Sociology students pick up electives and concentration areas like human rights, race and society, and criminology. Naturally, all these areas of study and expertise are the most relevant and needed in state organizations. 

Social workers, adoption and foster homes, shelter homes, rehabilitation centers, and many such spaces are run by the government to aid a better and improved lifestyle for its citizens. Sociologists play a great role in keeping these places fully functioning. 

To land a job in government and state-level organizations, you can major in Sociology, while minoring in subjects like Criminal Justice. 

Therefore, here are some of the most common jobs (mostly entry-level) that are taken by Sociology students in government organizations:

• Government Employment Options
• City Planner 
• Congressional Aid 
• Data Analyst
•  Population Specialist 
• Public Administrator 
• Public Health Educator 
• Public Opinion Surveyor 
• Secret Service Agent 
• Public Health Statistician
• Program supervisor
• Social Welfare Examiner 
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Human rights officer 
• Legislative aide 
• Peace Corps volunteer
• Personnel coordinator 
• Urban planner
  

Additionally, you can check out these government organizations and potential employers:

• Housing & Urban Development 
• Dept. of Agriculture
• Veterans Administration 
• National Institutes of Health 
• Health & Human Services 
• Juvenile court worker 
• Rehabilitation counselor
• National Institute of Aging 
• Drug Enforcement Administration 
• Environmental Protection Agency 
• Peace Corps
  

Sociology career path: Private sector opportunities 

Big corporations and business organizations are always on the lookout for liberal arts, social sciences, or humanities graduates for various roles. 21st-century careers with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology is your ultimate gateway to landing a secure job in a private business organization. 

You will be pleased to see how various departments of a business organization require the skills and learnings you have gained from your Sociology degree.

To land a job in a business organization or corporate setup, you must pick your minors in the degree carefully. Opt for minors like business management, project management, accounting, finance, marketing, and so on. 

Online job boards are filled with relevant jobs. Make sure you use LinkedIn and Indeed to find these jobs. 

Sociology degree jobs in business organizations

There are a lot of career prospects you can explore in the private sector or corporate world. Here is a list of some of the most common job roles Sociology graduates can get. 

• Administrative Assistant 
• Compensation/Benefits Specialist 
• Consumer Survey Advisor 
• Technical Writer
• Data Entry
• Project Planning and Management
• Demographic Analyst 
• Human Resources Specialist 
• Labor Relations Representative 
• Marketing Research Analyst 
• Interviewer 
• Public Relations Specialist 
  

Look for the following types of firms that could happen to be potential employers:

• Business startups
• Retail businesses
• Headhunting firms
• Healthcare organizations
• Data collection firms
• Law firms
• Medical research centers
• Polling firms 
• Advertising agencies 
  

What are the benefits of working in a corporate setting?

So, wondering whether a corporate job is the best for you? What career you can pursue with your undergraduate sociology degree will help you decide what subjects to minor in, how to create a relevant profile, and what skills you need to work. 

For starters, sociology degree jobs in a corporate setting have a range of benefits. Since there are pros and cons of everything, here is a look at the benefits and drawbacks of working a corporate job after your sociology degree. 

• Paid holidays and time off 
• Medical and dental insurances
• Perks and benefits on top of gross salary that include gym memberships, bonuses, and professional trainings
• Remote working options 
• Work-life balance ensured by vacation days, weekends, and fixed work hours
• Increase in socialization and professional networking
• Greater chances of professional growth
• Increments and appraisals for financial growth

Are there sociology jobs in educational institutes?

Firstly, a very popular belief about Sociology degree jobs is that the options for Sociology graduates are limited to professions like teaching, mentoring, and coaching. However, this is not true, as we have already seen that there are numerous types of jobs that a Sociology graduate can get into. 

However, a bachelor’s degree in Sociology does prepare its students with the necessary soft and hard skills that can assist them in a teaching career. 

Educational roles such as teachers require an empathetic worldview, a deep understanding of human behaviors in groups, and how to deal with them. Therefore, sociologists have an edge at managing classrooms and students than people from other types of professional degrees. 

For pursuing a career in educational roles and institutes, you might want to complement your Sociology undergraduate degree with:

• Voluntary teaching work
• Work as teacher’s PA
• Enroll yourself in teaching courses and workshops
• Work as an on-campus tutor
• Look for relevant postgraduate programs

Here is a quick list of job roles that a Sociology undergraduate degree offers (but not limited to):

• Elementary Teacher 
• High School Teacher 
• School Administrator 
• School Counselor
• Teaching Assistant
• Career Counselors in high schools

What are the alternative career paths for sociology majors?

Luckily enough, other than the mainstream career paths for sociology degree holders, there are numerous other industries and job types they can explore. For example, a sociology major is relevant for legal and justice institutions, just as much as it is relevant for a corporate business organization. In fact, there are entire research firms and service providers that are always trying to bring a sociologist on board and utilize their research skills. 

Additionally, sociology overlaps with important disciplines and degrees like criminology. Therefore, it is easy to find jobs in many relevant and related fields like in criminal justice and juvenile correction.

Here, we have listed some unique jobs and career paths for sociology graduates:

Community Services Family planner Community fundraiser Senior home caretaker Rural development worker Medical records and data manager Case manager/assistant Child development and training	Justice System Criminal investigator Rehabilitation for former prisoners Police and other department hiring manager Juvenile caseworker Parole officer	Research Work Research assistant Survey manager Data analyst Market researcher Interviewer Research consultant Research specialist Consumer insights analyst Policy researcher Statistician
Writing/Publishing  Technical writer Content writer editor/proofreader Content manager Content quality checker/assurance Ebooks writer	Journalism  New reporter News collector Field reporter Community researcher Culture  Columnist Editor (varying levels of seniority) Staff writer	Health Sector Health care worker Medical assistant Hospital social worker Public health statistician Rehabilitation counselor Hospital administrator

Job search strategies for sociology with an undergraduate degree

Most successful professionals will tell you to start looking for work and any opportunity to gain experience from the first day you enroll in the undergraduate Sociology program. 

Besides, you have to remain active in your job search, so you don’t miss out on important job posting and updates on platforms like LinkedIn.

Therefore, to help you find a job or any notable work opportunity faster, here are some important tips:

Identify your goals and preferences

Firstly, must understand your own work preferences. This comes a lot from your personality type, so it might be a good call to take a quick personality test and identify what your personality is like. Next, when you have an answer to that, keep in mind what matters to you the most and how you are most likely to behave at work.

So, based on these findings, you can then sort out your job preferences and be very clear on them. Additionally, these preferences can also be used as “filters” on job search portals like Glassdoor, Indeed, and so on. Job preferences can be anything like location, job timings, company size, pay scale, and much more. 

Look beyond the salary 

Second of all, of course, the salary or pay scale is the top-of-the-list factor for almost everyone looking for a job. However, some important factors make a job irresistible, even when the financial outlook may not be extraordinary. 

You need to look for future growth prospects and whether the job will have you hit a dead end. Work culture, training opportunities, and pay raises also matter.

For a sociology undergraduate, government and nonprofit organizations are great places to work at since these places often have the most relevant jobs. However, these jobs are less likely to pay as much as other types of industries and organization types.

So, the decision should be made aligning with your personal goals, and preferably weighing all the factors that go beyond just the paycheck. 

Tailor your resume

Thirdly, for every job that you apply to, make sure to make small but necessary tweaks to your resume. The resume you send out for any job should have all the important keywords and focus words that are particular to that job description. Additionally, tailoring your resume as per the job opportunity will not only help you stand out, but the employer will be able to get a glance of important and relevant work and judge you based on that. 

Ask for recommendations and referrals

Lastly, when you are just entering the world of Sociology degree jobs, you will soon realize the importance of referrals and recommendations. Therefore, make sure you have 3 to 4 recommendation letters from your teachers or even past employees off-hand, and use these letters to display and solidify your work ethic, dedication, and skills. 

However, referrals are a little harder to get than recommendation letters. Yet, if you keep networking with professionals and your alumni who are already doing jobs and well for themselves, then their referral will really change the game for you. 

What are the salary expectations for sociology jobs with bachelor’s degrees?

An important consideration most aspiring sociologists make is the financial bounty. High schoolers who are planning to enroll themselves in undergraduate Sociology programs wonder whether the degree will help them get paid enough. 

Therefore, to answer your question, there is a lot of data that tells us that Sociology is not an under-paying industry. In fact, PayScale reports that Sociologists make an average of $68,025/year up till the first quarter of 2024. Hourly, they make $30.00 on average. 

Meanwhile, other sources like salary.com report that the average annual salary range for Sociologists is between $66,008 and $82,055.

Factors affecting salary ranges

Foremost, salaries for any profession vary for one to another. These average ranges mentioned above are purely estimates and not exact figures. Additionally, some of the factors that influence salary ranges include:

• Education level (grad or post grad)
• Experience and seniority level 
• Type of industry 
• Type of company (e.g: corporate might pay more than non-profit organization)
• Location of the job; city and state salary ranges vary
• Other benefits on top of the gross salary
• Education background and school name

Get the right start to your career with sociology degree jobs

In summary, whether you are planning to start a sociology degree or are inclined towards a degree in criminology or human resources career path, exploring the job and career outlook is essential. In addition to this, you must explore the various and diverse list of industries and job types you can get with a Sociology degree.

So, busting all myths and misconceptions about sociology degree jobs, we have listed some amazing career prospects in different types of organizations and job roles. So, from government jobs to non-profit organizations to corporate settings or social work, a sociology graduate can pretty much start anywhere. 

Moreover, the kind of skills and intellectual learning in a sociology undergraduate program allows students to prepare for a diverse variety of jobs. Besides, to learn more about sociology, you can enroll yourself in some of the best colleges in California. In addition, the best and highest-paying sociology degree jobs are also present in California. Meanwhile, technical services and scientific research are the highest-paying industry for sociologists. 

Hence, it is safe to say that getting a degree in sociology, choosing to minor in subjects like business and accounting, and starting off early with internships and volunteer work is a successful way of getting the best sociology degree jobs.