Communications encompasses a broad swath of careers, including writers, the media, and professional services. Often, people only think of traditional roles like corporate public relations, traditional print journalism, and advertising agencies. But as a digital presence becomes increasingly important for brands in the communications landscape, there are far more communications jobs than before.
If you have a strong interest in communications and all that it entails: verbal, written and sometimes visual, learn more about the exciting opportunities in this field.
The world-renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University offers an online M.S. in Communications.
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Generally, communications degrees break into three fields: journalism, advertising, and public relations. A career in any of these fields will require excellent communication skills, the ability to speak and write well, and a deep understanding of audience behavior, which a master’s in communications would also cover.
Advertising is a common communications career that touches many lives daily—on television, social media, and even by email. Careers in advertising can range from a creative director dreaming up what ads look like to a social media specialist spicing up your feed. Some common advertising jobs include:
In journalism, reporters, photographers, and editors work together to deliver timely, accurate news and information to the public. Today, the work is increasingly digital-first: even organizations that still produce print typically publish online, and journalists are often expected to update stories as new details emerge, publish for web and mobile, and engage audiences through social platforms.
At the same time, journalism skills are showing up in adjacent storytelling roles outside traditional newsrooms. Some professionals apply reporting-style research and narrative skills to “brand journalism” or content roles, helping organizations tell credible, audience-focused stories and, in some cases, shape content for discoverability (including search).
Common journalism and journalism-adjacent careers include:
Public relations is a blend of advertising and journalism. As brands and businesses need to communicate with consumers and the media, they carefully craft their messaging. Public relations specialists help brands create intentional communications for customers, investors, and other stakeholders. Some common public relations jobs include:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lumps communications careers into a single main category and otherwise classifies them by individual occupations. For example:
While there are many ways to use a communications degree, be it working in traditional media or in the digital world of social media, content writing and other internet forums, some jobs are particularly on the rise. Outside of common roles like reporter, advertising account executive or public relations specialist, here are five more niche roles that combine multiple communications skills and can help build up your skill-set:
According to the BLS, employment of media and communication workers is projected to grow 2.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average for all occupations. It is expected that about 20,100 new jobs will be added during that time period. This projected growth applies to the overall category, not to individual jobs. The median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $70,300 in May 2024, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $49,500.
When looking at specific roles in media and communications, the job outlook varies by profession. Review some of these communications job growth projections for more information:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $70,300 in May 2024. The median salary for advertising, marketing and promotions managers was $159,660 per year in 2024. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for marketing managers was $161,030 in 2024. The median salary for public relations specialists was $69,780 in 2024.
BLS data indicate the following states have the highest employment level for different communications careers. The tables compare employment levels, employment per thousand jobs, and annual mean wages by state. Interestingly, the states with the most jobs aren’t always the ones with the highest wages (2024).
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | 5,960 | 0.63 | Not published |
California | 4,920 | 0.27 | $130,570 |
Florida | 3,100 | 0.32 | Not published |
Texas | 2,580 | 0.19 | $65,930 |
District of Columbia | 2,480 | 3.53 | $138,590 |
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
California | 29,520 | 1.65 | $87,770 |
Texas | 26,380 | 1.95 | $66,070 |
New York | 25,080 | 2.67 | $89,490 |
Florida | 20,330 | 2.12 | $66,740 |
District of Columbia | 17,320 | 24.68 | $114,250 |
Advertising and Promotions Managers
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
New York | 3,830 | 0.41 | $216,080 |
California | 2,880 | 0.16 | $175,080 |
Texas | 2,250 | 0.17 | $114,700 |
Florida | 1,140 | 0.12 | $122,390 |
Maryland | 640 | 0.24 | $128,840 |
Communications careers vary in requirements and daily tasks, but many of them come down to one thing: how can you get a message to an intended audience? Whether you find you are a skilled writer, a great orator, a creative thinker, or a visual wizard, a career in communications may be for you.
If you think you want to work in the digital media landscape of today, a communications degree may be a good option.
Information Last Updated: January 2026
1AHA! “Marketing Overview: What are Some Marketing Job Titles?” Accessed January 2026.Return to footnote reference