Where Can a Media and Communications Degree in the US Take You?

Moreover, communications in the US, ranked among the country’s top college majors, per The Princeton Review. This is due to the versatility and wide array of careers one can take in various industries. Also, graduates of these degrees gain useful skills such as oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills. 

Growth of Media and Communications 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in media and communications are expected to grow 4 percent between 2019 and 2029, which is the average rate of growth in many industries in the US. Due to this growth, the industry is expected to create thousands of jobs in the coming year. 

Careers in Media and Communications 

If you are interested in what jobs and salaries are in store for media and communications graduates in the US, check the list below. 

Technical Writer

Technical writers’ general role is in preparing written materials like instruction manuals, guidebooks, journal articles, and other documents needed to communicate complex and technical information in simple terms. Technical writers can work in various industries such as IT, engineering, medicine, healthcare, science, aerospace, and even the government. 

In 2020, the median salary of a technical writer in the US cost around $74,650. 

Public Relations (PR) Specialists 

PR specialists’ main job is to create and maintain a favorable image of the client or organization that they represent. Thus, many companies use their skills in marketing and in raising awareness about their products. Meanwhile, other organizations use PR’s skills in shaping a better public opinion for them. Moreover, PRs are also an important role in the government, and they usually work as a press secretary or a public affairs officer. In 2020, a PR specialist’s median salary in the US is around $62,810. 

Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts 

Reporters, broadcast news analysts, and correspondents’ role is to inform the people about news and events happening inside and outside the country. Because of that, they usually work in newspapers, television, radio, magazines, and online news sites. The topics they usually inform people about include sports, politics, science, the economy, and so on. In 2020, the median salary for these job roles in news is around $49,300. 

Technicians (Broadcast, Sound and Video)Where Can a Media and Communications Degree in the US Take You?

Broadcast, Sound, and Video technicians usually work behind the scene by maintaining, operating, and setting up electrical equipment for radio and TV shows, concerts, movies, and sound recordings.

In 2020, the median salary for these roles is around $47,420. Also, this role is expected to grow 12% between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than other occupations. One reason is due to the changing and developing technology used in operating the equipment needed by these types of technicians. 

Learn more about the degrees you can take in media and communications. Check out MSM Unify’s list of courses to start. If you want to study in the US but unsure of how to fund your education, check out our article on How to get Financial Assistance as an International Student in the US.