In today’s evolving job market, a bachelor’s degree is increasingly important for many careers across a wide range of industries. So what jobs can you get with a bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s degree is typically enough to help you qualify for a variety of entry-level and mid-level positions across many fields, including business, finance, social services, psychology, computer science, healthcare and more.
“A bachelor’s degree can help you start and grow a career,” said Emma DeLanoy, a career advising team lead at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “A degree makes you more marketable and can help you start off on a career path a step ahead.”
The types of bachelor’s degree jobs you can get will depend on the subject you study and your real-world experience. But before exploring the best bachelor’s degree jobs for you, it’s important to understand the many benefits of earning a 4-year degree.
Can You Get a Good Job With a Bachelor’s Degree?
Earning a bachelor’s degree is becoming increasingly important when looking to start or change careers. As a result, bachelor’s degrees are more common than ever before.
From 2010 to 2019, the percentage of people aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree jumped from 29.9% to 36%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The value of earning a bachelor’s degree stems from more than their popularity or demand among employers. Bachelor’s degree holders can also expect to see more earning potential and job security over their lifetime than those without a 4-year degree.
“A bachelor’s degree makes you more marketable and that marketability means salary-wise as well,” said DeLanoy. “With a degree, the validity of what you know and what you bring to the table is increased.”
In 2020, bachelor’s degree holders earned more than workers without a 4-year degree, bringing home a median weekly income of $1,305 compared to $938 for associate degree holders and $781 for workers with a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Bachelor's degree holders also experience lower unemployment rates. The unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders was 5.5% in 2020, compared to 7.1% for associate degree holders and 9.0% for workers with a high school diploma, according to BLS.
If you're wondering which bachelor's degrees pay the most, there's no simple answer. The specific salary and career potential you’ll have with a bachelor’s degree will depend on the specific degree program you choose and the career path you follow after graduation.
What Jobs Can You Get With a Bachelor’s Degree?
When you earn a bachelor’s degree, you’ll have a key credential that can help you get started across a wide variety of fields, said SNHU internship administrator Larry Shane. While some careers do require specific degree programs, for many entry-level bachelor’s degree jobs just having a 4-year degree is enough to get started.
If you're still wondering which degree has the most job opportunities, keep reading to explore some of the best bachelor’s degree jobs across many fields.
SOCIAL SCIENCES BACHELOR'S DEGREE JOBS
There are a wide variety of jobs available to bachelor’s degree holders within the social sciences. Whether you pursue a career in psychology, criminal justice or human services, a bachelor’s degree will likely be a significant advantage.
Psychology Bachelor's Degree Jobs
A bachelor's degree in psychology offers a strong foundation in transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of careers. Some psychology careers include:
Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, you can prepare for a variety of careers in law enforcement, corrections, security and more. Criminal justice careers include:
Human Services Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
A bachelor’s degree in human services can prepare you for a variety of fields helping to improve the lives of others. Human services careers include:
BUSINESS BACHELOR'S DEGREE JOBS
If you dream of moving up the corporate ladder or starting your own company, a bachelor’s degree in business can help you get your career started.
Business Administration Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
A bachelor's degree in business administration provides a strong foundation of business acumen and transferable skills like communication and collaboration, and it can help you prepare for a variety of jobs within the business world. Business administration careers include:
Marketing Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
With a bachelor’s degree in marketing, you can gain the skills you need to help companies promote products and services to a variety of audiences and prepare for a number of entry-level and mid-level positions. Online marketing bachelor’s careers include:
Finance and Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
With a bachelor’s degree in finance, you can find entry-level positions in a variety of industries, from banking and financial institutions to finance departments of corporations and even government agencies. Finance bachelor’s careers include:
LIBERAL ARTS BACHELOR'S DEGREE JOBS
Whether you dream of becoming a writer or want to use your communication skills to work in public relations, a bachelor’s degree can give you the key job skills you need to launch your career.
History Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
A bachelor’s degree in history can give you the critical thinking and analysis skills you need for a career in education, research and a variety of other roles. History bachelor’s careers include:
Communication Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
A bachelor's degree in communications can give you the skills you need to share a message with a variety of audiences and start a career in writing, journalism, public relations and more. Some communication careers include:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACHELOR'S DEGREE JOBS
If a fast-paced, evolving field with lots of opportunities for growth is what you're looking for, a bachelor's degree in science or technology could be right for you.
Computer Science Bachelor's Degree Jobs
If you want a career designing websites, developing new software or changing the way individuals and businesses use technology, a bachelor's degree in computer science could be right for you. Computer science careers include:
Healthcare Bachelor’s Degree Jobs
With a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, you'll have the knowledge required to step into diverse professional or supervisory roles in the medical field. Healthcare bachelor’s degree jobs include:
What Is the Most Useful Degree?
With so many bachelor’s degree programs and careers to choose from, it can be difficult to choose the path that’s right for you.
Many students look ahead to their job prospects and potential salary when trying to determine which bachelor's degree program will be most useful, said SNHU career advisor Olivia Butler.
But while it's important to choose a degree that will help you build a solid career, Butler said earning potential isn't always the best factor to consider when choosing a bachelor's degree program.
Instead, Butler said she reminds students to think about what career they truly want, and to choose the bachelor's degree that will help them get there.
“My best advice is to pick the major that you are passionate about and that makes you feel fulfilled to learn about,” Butler said. “That way, when you ultimately apply for a job, you have the passion to back up your education.”
A degree can change your life. Find the SNHU bachelor's degree that can best help you meet your goals.
Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer focused on higher education. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
