The 15 Best Liberal Arts Degree Jobs

You’ve likely heard it before: “you can’t get a good job with a liberal arts degree.” Of course, while you can’t always avoid people making jokes at your expense for any reason, you should know that this particular stereotype is completely false.

On the contrary, whether you’re fresh out of college or simply looking to change careers, your liberal arts degree is a valuable asset. Your useful soft skills, adaptability, and specializations can get you into careers where you can earn well over $50,000 per year.

Of course, the trick is knowing about and finding those careers. Luckily, we’ve prepared a list of the top 15 best liberal arts degree jobs, so you can find a high-paying career that suits you.

Here are the 15 best liberal arts degree jobs:

Economist Jobs (Overview)
Management Analyst Jobs (Overview)
Public Relations Director Jobs (Overview)
Art Director Jobs (Overview)
Psychologist Jobs (Overview)
Advertising Manager Jobs (Overview)
Human Resources Specialist Jobs (Overview)
Educational Administrator Jobs (Overview)
Archaeologist Jobs (Overview)
Writer Jobs (Overview)
Sales Representative Jobs (Overview)
Editor Jobs (Overview)
Social Worker Jobs (Overview)
Secondary Teacher Jobs (Overview)
Art Therapy Specialist Jobs (Overview)

Detailed List of the Top 15 Best Liberal Arts Degree Jobs

Economist

Average Salary: $114,896 per year
Jobs Available: 1,044
Job Growth Rate: 8%

While it might not seem like a liberal arts job on the surface, economists need to study things like history and human behavior.

That’s because these professionals analyze and forecast economic trends through the research of statistics, formulas, and other data. While half of the job is related to money, the other half focuses solely on human behavior.

Income-wise, this job is a home run for any liberal arts graduate. You’ll get to spend your time researching, and discovering new trends, while also making an average of $55.24 per hour. Plus, you may be able to get in with only a bachelor’s, as 58.4% of those currently working in the field have done.

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Management Analyst

Average Salary: $80,245 per year
Current Jobs Available: 107,160
Job Growth Rate: 14%

Management analysts work as a team with other business members to analyze operations and identify ways to increase efficiency and profit. As you might expect, this is a high-demand role, with over 100,000 jobs currently on the job market.

This job can be perfect for those with liberal arts degrees because you’ll get to spend your time working with clients, vendors, employees, and executives to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the company. That means your communication and research skills will be prized in this role.

Overall, sports reporters earn an average of $35.75 per hour. Additionally, bachelor’s degrees are also the most common degree needed to start working, with 65.8% of those in the field having one as their highest level of education.

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Public Relations Director

Average Salary: $79,185 per year
Jobs Available: 34,382
Job Growth Rate: 8%

As natural leaders, public relations directors plan and implement communications strategies while supervising PR staff. This can include anything from setting goals and deadlines, assigning and reviewing tasks, and communicating with other company branches.

“Why is this solid liberal arts field?” you might ask. This field is great for anyone who can strategize creative and innovative solutions while also having the communication and leadership skills necessary to head a team.

Of course, if you’re willing to climb the PR ranks, you can make an average of $38.07 per hour. And all you need is a bachelor’s degree to get started, as 81.1% of those in the field have one as their highest level of education.

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Art Director

Average Salary: $74,672 per year
Jobs Available: 22,523
Job Growth Rate: 1%

If you have an eye for artistic design, you might just want to consider becoming an art director. These experts manage creative initiatives for companies and campaigns from start to finish, using their art knowledge and leadership skills to guide a creative team. Of course, their ultimate goal is to conceptualize, design, and execute visual materials.

This career is great for liberal arts graduates, as you’ll be able to use your artistic knowledge, as well as your leadership and research skills, to help businesses.

Plus, you’ll make an average of $35.90 per hour doing so. Overall, getting started as an art director isn’t difficult when you have the appropriate leadership skills, as 74.6% of those currently working in the field only needed a bachelor’s degree to start their career.

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Psychologist

Average Salary: $72,956 per year
Jobs Available: 5,785
Job Growth Rate: 14%

Psychologists work to understand the brain, specifically human cognition, and behavior. This is done through scientific studies, surveys, observations, and interviews.

Given the importance of communicating with and understanding clients, this line of work is often perfect for those with liberal arts degrees. Not only can you immerse yourself in historical and scientific research, but you’ll also be able to use that knowledge to assist others.

For their efforts, psychologists earn an average of $35.08 per hour. The only catch is that you’ll usually need an advanced degree to start working, as 25.9% currently in the field needed at least a master’s to start working, and 23% needed a doctorate. However, there’s still a considerable 46.5% of psychologists who only needed a bachelor’s.

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Advertising Manager

Average Salary: $72,946 per year
Jobs Available: 43,833
Job Growth Rate: 8%

As the title would suggest, advertising managers direct a company’s advertising activities and staff members to develop creative and eye-catching ad campaigns. Through their established goals and ability to monitor staff, these professionals bring increased interest and sales to the companies who hire them.

As someone with a liberal arts degree, your ability to communicate with others, research, and develop creative ideas makes you an invaluable candidate for this role.

Further, you’ll earn an average of $35.07 per hour, likely only needing your bachelor’s degree. A considerable 77.2% of those currently working in the field have a bachelor’s as their highest level of education.

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Human Resources Specialist

Average Salary: $69,616 per year
Jobs Available: 42,604
Job Growth Rate: 5%

Human resources specialists, otherwise known as HR specialists, ensure that the right people are selected for various job positions. This line of work is extremely important for companies, as HR specialists serve to find, train, and educate new employees.

Communication skills are a must for this role, making it suitable for any aspiring liberal arts graduate. Further, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to move up the corporate ladder.

Overall, HR specialists earn $33.47 per hour, with moderate education requirements. 67.9% of those currently working in the field have a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education, while 15.6% have a master’s.

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Educational Administrator

Average Salary: $63,673 per year
Jobs Available: 51,520
Job Growth Rate: 4%

Education administrators (principals, school superintendents, program directors, college deans, etc.) manage their schools efficiently and effectively. This includes coordinating curricula, creating schedules, overseeing school staff, recruiting staff, and providing a safe and productive learning environment for students.

Unlike other careers in the school system or education, school administrators make an average of $30.61 per hour. By contrast, the average teacher makes $22.41 per hour. That makes this a great career option for any liberal arts major who wants to teach and wants as high of a salary as possible.

And that average salary comes with education requirements that are no higher than the average teacher, with 61% of school administrators starting their careers with only a bachelor’s degree.

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Archaeologist

Average Salary: $58,944 per year
Jobs Available: 4,908
Job Growth Rate: 10%

Responsible for a huge swath of the historical knowledge we’ve discovered, archaeologists locate, extract and examine historical artifacts, buildings and remains. These items are then cleaned, cataloged, and studied in the lab with the primary objective of understanding cultural history.

While you might not be a real-life Indiana Jones running from boulders, this line of work is perfect for any liberal arts graduate who loves history. That’s because this job will use your research and communication skills while also allowing you to make discoveries.

Plus, you’ll earn an average of $28.34 unearthing history. The only catch is that you’ll need to dedicate quite a bit of time to education, internships, and archaeology programs. Overall, 74.4% have bachelor’s degrees, and 14.8% have master’s degrees.

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Writer

Average Salary: $57,413 per year
Jobs Available: 29,433
Job Growth Rate: 2%

Writers are versatile experts of the written word who spend their time writing. Whether you want to freelance, blog, or create physical books, becoming a writer is a great to express your creativity. What’s more, is that you can theoretically write about anything you want, as long as you have a solid audience.

Being a writer allows you to have a flexible work schedule dedicated to research and discovery. That might just work for you, as if you have a liberal arts degree, you’ve likely already spent a considerable amount of time writing.

Overall, writers earn a respectable average of $27.60 per hour, with a 3-4 year degree being the most common needed to start working. 73.9% of those currently working in the field got in with a bachelor’s as their highest level of education.

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Sales Representative

Average Salary: $56,106 per year
Jobs Available: 169,231
Job Growth Rate: 2%

Sales representatives are in the business of selling products and making new customers. Sounds simple, right? And because this role is vital for so many companies, there are a staggering 169,231 jobs available in the U.S. alone.

This job can be great for anyone with a liberal arts degree because strategic communication and research are key. You’ll have to convince clients to buy products, and that might just be easier when you’ve studied humanities.

And unsurprisingly, being in the business of making companies money comes with a healthy average salary of $26.97 per hour, with minimal education requirements. 53% of those currently working only needed a bachelor’s degree to start their career, while another 35% started with an associate’s degree or less.

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Editor

Average Salary: $51,516 per year
Jobs Available: 30,368
Job Growth Rate: -3%

While writers let their creativity flow onto the page, editors are tasked with ensuring that creativity makes sense. After all, it’s frowned upon to publish a book or article filled with a plethora of grammatical errors.

This line of work requires effective communication so that documents can be effectively exchanged and proofread within tight time constraints. Scheduling, research, and review skills are also necessary for this role.

Overall, the average editor makes $24.77 per hour, with moderate education requirements. 76.5% of those currently working in the field have a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education.

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Social Worker

Average Salary: $51,178 per year
Jobs Available: 72,053
Job Growth Rate: 11%

Social workers are community-oriented professionals who provide counseling services, perform administrative duties, and interview potential clients. Often the individual’s social workers provide services to are facing challenges or have disabilities.

As someone with a liberal arts degree, you’re perfectly suited to handle tough situations that require effective communication. Plus, you can take comfort in the knowledge that you’ll actively help others.

Overall, the average social worker makes around $24.60 per hour. Education plays a crucial role in landing a job, though, with 58.6% of employees in this field needing a bachelor’s degree to start working and 33.2% needing a master’s degree.

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Secondary Teacher

Average Salary: $51,048 per year
Jobs Available: 62,958
Job Growth Rate: 4%

We all know what a teacher is, but secondary teachers specialize in one particular topic, teaching multiple groups per day, like your high school English teacher, as opposed to your first grade primary teacher. Secondary teachers can expect to stay busy with lesson planning, grading, and daily instruction on a regular day.

This job is great for liberal arts graduates because it allows you to pursue your passion while also teaching others about it. That way, this job combines research, creativity, and communication.

Overall, the average secondary teacher makes $24.54 per hour, with moderate education requirements. 67% of referees needed a bachelor’s degree to start working, while 24% needed a master’s.

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Art Therapy Specialist

Average Salary: $50,157 per year
Jobs Available: 12,210
Job Growth Rate: 7%

Combining the emotional and creative benefits of art with the psychological benefits of therapy, art therapists help others resolve emotional conflicts, develop social skills, reduce anxiety, and recover from substance abuse, all using art.

This can include treating patients (young or old) by expressing themselves through paintings, drawings, and more.

For obvious reasons, this job brings creativity to the forefront. It’s a perfect way to help others while also putting your liberal arts degree to good use.

Overall, the average art therapist earns $24 per hour, with education playing an important role in starting your career. 58.8% of those currently working in the field needed a bachelor’s degree to start their career, with 32.6 needing a master’s.

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How We Decide Which Jobs Are the Best (and What to Look for Yourself)

It’s important to understand which factors make a job great for those with a liberal arts degree.

Some important factors include:

Writing. As a liberal arts major, you’re probably used to writing. With that in mind, if you find that you’re particularly skilled in writing assignments and other related tasks in your classes, you can feel comfortable in pursuing careers that require you to write. After all, plenty of hiring managers are on the hunt for skilled writers.
Communication. Liberal arts degrees tend to put a heavy focus on learning about humanity. This comes with topics and skills like education, empathy, and leadership. Therefore, jobs that require teamwork or teaching can be fitting options.
Research. In a similar vein to writing, many liberal arts majors spend considerable time researching specific topics. Skill in research can make you an extremely valuable asset for many jobs.
Critical Thinking. As a liberal arts major, you’re taught to think critically about the world around you. That makes you a great candidate for jobs that desire innovation and problem-solvers.
Creativity. You might not think a creative mind is very useful on the job market, but there are tons of careers out there for creative thinkers. After all, where do you think new inventions and innovations come from?

Remember that one of these factors might be more important to you than another, but we will focus mainly on jobs that fit one or more of these criteria for this list. That way, you’ll have several different options across a wide range of industries/fields.

The Bottom Line

Whether you spent your college years studying history, psychology, or any of the other interesting liberal arts majors, you can take comfort in knowing that there’s a whole world of relevant jobs out there for you to explore. From helping others learn and grow to managing some of the most important parts of a company, you can find a well-paying job that you’ll love.

Of course, while our top 15 list focuses on some of the best salaries you can earn in liberal arts fields, there are many other jobs out there that allow you to put your degree to good use. You just have to get out there and dive into the job market!

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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