Top Careers for Sociology Majors
Are you curious about how society shapes the way we think and feel? Are you fascinated by the way people interact with one another?
Majoring in sociology is one of the most varied and interdisciplinary educational paths available. Over the course of this degree, sociology students interact with an expansive array of subjects, such as political science, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, psychology, and more. They develop a deep understanding of a wide range of topics—including social systems, personal identity, and societal trends—and gain an even wider set of abilities—from data analysis to effective communication and everything in between.
Not surprisingly, the list of careers available to a sociology major incredibly diverse. With opportunities in social work, education, customer service, and many other fields, sociology graduates are in no short supply of professional options.
This article will be covering the following careers:
| Career | Avg Salary | Satisfaction | Your Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | $37k | 2.9/5 | |
| Family Social Worker | $35k | 2.8/5 | |
| Human Resources Manager | $84k | 3.1/5 | |
| Restaurant Manager | $34k | 2.8/5 | |
| Journalist | $36k | 3.5/5 | |
| Office Clerk | $27k | 2.6/5 | |
| Mental Health Counselor | $42k | 3.1/5 | |
| Probation Officer | $56k | 3.1/5 | |
| Recruiter | $48k | 2.8/5 | |
| Community Health Worker | $39k | 3.3/5 | |
| Market Research Analyst | $57k | 3.0/5 | |
| Sociologist | $86k | 3.4/5 |
Are these careers suited to you? Our comprehensive career test measures your personality traits and interests and matches you to over 800 careers.
1. Social Worker
Social workers help individuals, families, communities, and other groups live better, more fulfilling lives. They interact with a diverse array of clients on a daily basis, and need to be able to understand where each person is coming from and what unique challenges they faces. Sociology graduates—with their knowledge of social structures, interpersonal relationships, and social inequality—are ideally suited to the job.
Social Worker
There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers, who help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, and clinical social workers, who diagnose and treat mental, behavioural, and emotional issues.
2. Family Social Worker
Over the course of their bachelor's degree, sociology students have the opportunity to explore a range of topics, including criminology, gender roles, sexuality, and more. Many of these subjects correspond to professional specializations, such as family social work. In this challenging and rewarding career, sociology majors will find satisfaction in helping parents and children restore harmony in their lives.
Family Social Worker
A family social worker helps families and individuals get through difficult times or get additional support.
3. Human Resources Manager
Many sociology majors find a natural home in the world of human resources (HR). HR managers work within organizations of all sizes, and are responsible for hiring, training, and managing all of a company's employees. To fulfil their duties, they must be adept at communicating with anyone who steps through their office door, which can include people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities than themselves. Sociology graduates, with their awareness of these diverse identities, are made for this important, personable career.
Human Resources Manager
A human resources manager is someone who oversees and manages a company's human resources department.
4. Restaurant Manager
It may not be the most obvious career choice, but sociology majors can make excellent restaurant managers. With a nuanced understanding of people and groups, sociology graduates in the hospitality industry are especially adept at anticipating their customers' needs. They also know how to keep their staff happy, which enables them to ensure all of the servers, hosts, and cooks in their restaurant have what they need to work as quickly and effectively as possible.
Restaurant Manager
A restaurant manager is someone who is the 'face' of a restaurant and whose main responsibilities are to deal with customer service issues as well as to ensure that the food quality coming out of the kitchen is the best it can be.
5. Journalist
Over the course of their degree, sociology majors learn to master the written word. But they don't just become strong communicators; they also gain a great deal of knowledge about important societal, political, and cultural issues. Together, all of these qualities prepare them for a successful career in journalism. In this fast-paced and intellectually stimulating role, they will enjoy researching story ideas, interviewing experts, and weaving together engaging, socially relevant narratives.
Journalist
A journalist is someone who investigates, collects and presents information as a news story.
6. Office Clerk
Among other skills, sociology students develop excellent organizational and communication abilities over the course of their degree. They make sharp and sociable office clerks, logging missed calls, filing documents, and scheduling appointments with efficiency and ease. In this varied role, they'll have a chance to try their hand at a range of tasks: data processing, bookkeeping, receptionist work, and more. Detail-oriented sociology graduates will take pride in this fast-paced career.
Office Clerk
An office clerk is someone who typically works in an office doing a little bit of everything; answering phones, bookkeeping, filing, mailing, message delivery, data processing, running errands, sorting mail etc.
7. Mental Health Counselor
Many students enter their sociology degree because of a deep-rooted interest in people and a desire to strive for a better, more inclusive society. For this reason, pursuing a career in the counseling industry can be incredibly rewarding. Mental health counselors help patients suffering from a variety of emotional, social, and psychological issues to improve their relationships and daily functioning. Although this profession requires a master's degree in counseling, obtaining a bachelor's in sociology is a perfect place to start.
Mental Health Counselor
A mental health counselor is someone who helps people manage or overcome mental and emotional disorders and problems with their family and relationships.
8. Probation Officer
Probation offers work in conjunction with the legal system, evaluating criminal offenders and determining the best course of treatment, providing them with resources for rehabilitation, and monitoring their progress as they attempt to reintegrate into society. While not a career for the feint of heart, life as a probation officer can be intellectually engaging and morally rewarding. Sociology degree graduates, with their knowledge of criminology and human psychology, are ideally situated to pursue this challenging and meaningful profession.
Probation Officer
A probation officer is someone who works with and monitors offenders to prevent them from committing new crimes.
9. Recruiter
Recruiters, or "staffing recruiters", help bridge the gap between employers and job seekers. They work with companies and individuals of all kinds to determine the best possible candidate for a given position. Success in this field requires many things, but among the most important is a deep understanding of people and group dynamics—both of which sociology majors possess.
Recruiter
A recruiter is someone who finds qualified, dedicated and invested candidates for a job vacancy, and works to meet the demands of both the employer and the employee.
10. Community Health Worker
For sociology majors with an interest in entering the medical field, a career in community health is a perfect fit. To enter this profession, they will need to pursue additional education, but, for the right person, the effort will be worth it. Community health workers work with individuals and groups who are typically underserved by the medical system to access the care they need. This can include immigrants, ethnic minorities, individuals who are uninsured, and other marginalized groups. Because of the diversity of the clients that community health workers serve, a high degree of social and cultural awareness is a must in this career. Sociology majors are not only up for the challenge; they thrive in it.
Community Health Worker
A community health worker serves as a liaison between the community and the health care, government and social service systems.
11. Market Research Analyst
Market research offers sociology majors a corporate career option that many will find fulfilling and engaging. In this fast-paced and ever-changing profession, they'll be able to put their research abilities, communication skills, and knowledge of societal trends to use. Market research analysts work with companies in a wide variety of industries. Drawing on consumer behavior and market data, they provide clients with advice on what products to sell, how to promote them, and which customers to target.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst is someone who gathers market intelligence and presents it in a way that customers or colleagues can understand.
12. Sociologist
Last but not least, some sociology majors choose to continue their studies rather than enter the work force. With a PhD in sociology, many find mentally stimulating and creatively rewarding careers within academia. Professional sociologists can be found in most of the world's top universities and colleges, conducting academic research, publishing books and journal articles, and helping students discover the wonders of their favourite subject.
