Many students who study humanities or social sciences, whether from political science, sociology, psychology, English, History, or Economics backgrounds, worry that their degree will limit their options. This concern grows as new tools, new work styles, and new research methods shape hiring trends. All these departments now link directly to fast-growing roles in policy, human behavior, writing, tech support roles, climate work, and organizational training.

 

This guide provides readers with a clear view of career paths that align with current hiring needs. Each path shows how your subject knowledge can help you stand out in a crowded job market. In this guide, you will see roles with clear duties, strong pay, and rising demand across government, corporate teams, research groups, consulting firms, and tech companies. By the end of this guide, you will feel clear and confident about the next step in your career.

 

Now, let's move into each department so you can see career openings appearing for students from various fields, including history, political science, sociology, psychology, English, geography, and philosophy.

 

History 

 

Archivist

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for archivists, curators, and museum workers was $57,100 in May 2024. Employment for these roles is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average. Archivists can work in museums and historical societies, government agencies, universities, research institutions, and corporations, maintaining legacy records.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Archival organization and metadata knowledge
• Attention to detail 
• Communication and public-access support

Demand for digital archiving is rising. More records are being born digital, and institutions need archivists who combine history expertise with digital literacy.

 

Records Analyst

According to Salary.com, a Records Management Analyst makes an average of $102,655/year in the U.S. This job is becoming more critical as companies and public agencies are ever-growing and have enough information with stricter regulations. As a Records Analyst, an individual must analyze, organize, and maintain records in physical and digital formats while ensuring compliance with regulations for data retention, privacy, and archival standards.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Research and archival mindset
• Systematic Thinking
• Ability to work with metadata and databases.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills

 

Heritage Site Coordinator

Public interest in cultural tourism and heritage is growing, increasing investment in historic site maintenance and education. State historic preservation offices and cultural organizations rely on professionals to maintain and interpret sites. Heritage Site Coordinator generally coordinates with government bodies, preservation agencies, and community groups for preservation projects while managing historic sites, museums, or landmarks. They even plan and run visitor programs, educational tours, and events.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong writing and communication
• Historical research and site knowledge
• Program coordination and project management
• Public engagement skills

 

Public Historian

Historic interpretation and community-based history are growing as public organizations invest in inclusive narratives. Their salary depends on role and employers: a job listing from the National Council on Public History shows a range of $47,588- $65,000/year. The work role of a Public Historian is to research and interpret historical themes for public audiences, design exhibitions, write reports, lead public programs, and engage with communities, schools, and government to bring history alive.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Research and narrative development
• Exhibit design and public interpretation
• Community engagement
• Grant writing and program planning

 

Synthetic Media Historian

As tech firms and educational platforms invest in generative AI for storytelling, they need historians who understand both history and media ethics. There is increasing demand for "virtual heritage" experiences in edtech, gaming, VR, and cultural tourism. Synthetic Media Historians use AI tools to analyze or generate historically accurate media (text, video, VR). They develop virtual or augmented reality timelines and historical environments while working with media studios or tech firms to consult on narrative authenticity and historical accuracy.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Research and fact-checking precision
• Historical narrative development
• Understanding of AI-driven content production
• Collaboration with designers, developers, and storytellers

 

Sociology

 

Survey Researcher

As a survey researcher, you turn social science skills into high-value, data-driven work. Your ability to interpret human trends and turn them into data makes you highly valuable, not just in academia, but in business, public policy, and research. If you want a role rooted in sociology that brings tangible outcomes and pays well, this is a strong choice. On Glassdoor, survey research analysts report salaries in the $67,000- $102,000 range in the U.S. 

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong writing and social-science research ability
• Statistical and analytical thinking
• Survey design and questionnaire development
• Presentation and report writing

 

Public Health Program Coordinator

As public health demands grow (especially after global health challenges), coordinators are crucial to managing large-scale interventions. According to Glassdoor, the average public health program coordinator in the U.S. makes $71,896/year. The roles of Public Health Program Coordinators include planning and running health initiatives, such as community health campaigns or disease-prevention programs, coordinating between departments, government agencies, and local partners, tracking metrics, reporting program progress, and adjusting strategies based on data.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Sociological insight into health behavior.
• Research and data-monitoring capability
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Program planning and evaluation.

 

Workforce Analyst

With your background in social behavior, you are uniquely suited to interpret workforce trends that purely technical analysts may miss. As a workforce analyst, you can break into corporate, tech, or public policy with a strong salary and high impact. According to ZipRecruiter, the average workforce analyst in the U.S. earns $104,074/year as of November 2025.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Sociological insight into organizational behavior
• Data analysis and predictive modeling
• Forecasting and statistical reasoning
• Communication and presentation of complex findings

 

AI Ethics Officers

As AI adoption grows across sectors, organizations increasingly need ethics professionals to prevent harm and maintain trust. According to a Career salary report, AI Ethics Officers earn  $95,000-$135,000/year in the U.S. These Officers review AI systems and models for ethical concerns, bias, and fairness, and audit AI decision-making processes to ensure compliance with social norms while developing guidelines and assessments for companies to use AI responsibly.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Deep sociological understanding of social Justice and bias.
• Critical thinking and ethical reasoning.
• Research and policy analysis
• Communication and stakeholder engagement.

 

AI Forensics Reviewer

With the rise of AI-generated media and misinformation, companies and governments increasingly hire forensics teams to validate content and maintain trust. In general, Forensic analysts make around $101,225/year in the U.S. (Indeed data for forensic analysts). As deepfakes increase, demand will surge for people who understand both the technology and its social consequences. You have the chance to protect truth and integrity in digital spaces.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Sociological understanding of influence, identity, and narrative.
• Research and investigate mindset
• Digital literacy and familiarity with media tools
• Ethical reasoning and policy insight.

 

Economics

 

Market Analyst

Consumer-behavior tracking is now core for retail, healthcare, and tech companies, making the field steady and expanding. Market analysis studies market conditions to help companies understand consumer demand, track pricing, competitor moves, and emerging economic signals, and prepare reports used by sales, strategy, and leadership teams. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median salary of $78,150 per year for market research analysts (May 2024). 

 

Pursue Bachelor of Science in Economics

 

Key Skills Required:

• Quantitative Reasoning
• Ability to interpret economic patterns
• Report writing and visualization
• Understanding of price behavior and consumer incentives

 

Financial Policy Assistant

Federal and state departments need staff who understand economic behavior, taxation, and public spending.  Their role is to support senior analysts in evaluating fiscal proposals, prepare policy briefs and economic summaries for committees, track federal and state budget changes, and collect data used to review financial outcomes. According to Glassdoor, financial policy assistants and similar positions earn $58,000 to $85,000 per year, depending on agency and state.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Understanding of micro and macro concepts
• Budget interpretation
• Data review and report writing
• Awareness of regulatory structures

 

AI Policy Specialist

Government agencies and tech companies need staff who can assess economic impact linked to automated tools, and an AI Policy Specialist is the best person responsible for it. They study how AI systems affect labor markets, pricing, and economic stability, contribute to guidelines for safe AI use in public and private organizations, and evaluate economic risk tied to automations and digital models. AI Policy Specialists across industry and government earn $95,000 to $145,000 per year, according to U.S. job data from 2025 salary reports.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong grounding in labor trends
• Understanding of productivity models
• Policy evaluation skills
• Clear analytical writing

 

Trade Research Officer

With shifting global supply chains, government and industry need expert researchers. Trade research officers and trade analysts earn $78,000 to $110,000 per year, depending on agency and region. They can work in the Department of Commerce, international trade agencies, trade associations, multinational companies, and research organizations that focus on global economics.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Ability to interpret trade and tariff structures
• Quantitative reasoning 
• International market awareness
• Clear report creation

 

Governance Advisor

Industries and public offices require stronger oversight structures due to changing laws and rising public expectations. Governance advisors and analysts earn $88,000 to $120,000 per year based on national consulting salary reports. They support policy, compliance, or strategic planning teams, identify gaps in governance systems and propose improvements, and develop economic assessments tied to public or corporate programs while reviewing regulatory changes and their economic impact.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Policy evaluation
• Risk interpretation
• Understanding of market incentives
• Strong communication skills

 

Sustainability Impact Researcher

Sustainability remains a hiring priority. Teams need researchers who can connect environmental programs with economic outcomes. They study the economic impact of sustainability programs, prepare models for energy use, emissions, and resource planning, support ESG teams with research and cost-benefit reports, and review industry data to measure environmental outcomes. Companies and agencies invest in sustainability planning due to policy pressure and corporate responsibility goals.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Cost-benefit analysis
• Quantitative modeling
• Policy review
• Understanding of resource allocation

 

Political Science

 

Pursue Bachelor of Scince in Political Science | Master of Arts in Political Science

 

Legislative Assistant

As a legislative assistant, you gain experience directly in government, helping shape laws and understand policy at the heart of American democracy. They support lawmakers by drafting and researching bills, preparing briefing materials summarizing complex policy issues, tracking legislation through committees and amendments, and coordinating with stakeholders like lobbyists, experts, and agencies. According to Glassdoor, the average U.S legislative assistant makes $51,000 - $ 75,000/year, depending on chamber and seniority.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Policy research and analysis
• Clear, persuasive writing
• Organizational and tracking ability
• Stakeholder coordination and communication

 

Policy Analyst

Nonprofits, think tanks, and government bodies frequently hire analysts to study emerging challenges like AI regulation, climate policy, or labor reform. According to PayScale, a U.S. policy analyst earns an average of $73,000/year, with top analysts making more than $110,000/year. The role of Policy Analyst includes conducting research on public policy issues (education, technology, health, etc.), writing policy briefs and strategy recommendations, analyzing data to evaluate policy effectiveness, and communicating insights to agencies, NGOs, or government decision makers.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong critical thinking and concept analysis
• Quantitative and qualitative research ability
• Writing actionable policy recommendations
• Communication with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

 

Compliance Analyst

Regulation is a foundational issue across industries. By working in compliance, you become a crucial player in governance structures, helping the organization meet legal standards and social expectations. They monitor corporate or governmental compliance with regulations (financial, data, environmental, etc.), conduct internal audits and risk assessments, and develop and enforce policies and procedures, reporting findings of policies and procedures. According to Glassdoor, compliance analysts in the U.S. make around $60,000-$110,000/year. 

 

Key Skills Required:

• Policy literacy and regulatory understanding
• Analytical thinking and risk management
• Strong writing and procedural documentation
• Ethical reasoning and stakeholder management

 

Public Affairs Coordinator 

Public Affairs Coordinator helps craft messages that influence policy and public perception. That is real power, rooted in your political science training. As public policy debates grow more complex (climate, AI, regulation), organizations need professionals who understand policy and communications. According to Salary.com, public affairs coordinators in the U.S. make an average of $59,000- $95,000/year.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Policy awareness and political insight
• Strategic communication and message framing
• Stakeholder outreach and coalition building
• Campaign planning

 

Immigration Services Officer

Immigration is a live policy issue with deep social impact. If you want impact but also care about people's lives, the role of an immigration services officer gives you a powerful, policy-focused opportunity in government or nonprofit work. According to U.S. government job listings, immigration officers or services specialists earn $45,000 to over $90,000/year.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Understanding of law, policy, and institutional structures
• Empathy and community awareness
• Administrative and case-management skills
• Research and procedural documentation

 

Government Relations Associate

Many students want a high-influence role without being a legislator. A government relations associate allows you to shape policy from the outside, working for organizations that influence government. According to LinkedIn and Salary.com, U.S. government relations associates earn $65,000 - $120,000/year. Organizations across sectors increasingly depend on government relations teams to navigate complex regulation, especially in fields like healthcare, environment, and tech.

 

Key Skills Required

• Deep understanding of political institutions
• Strategic thinking and policy planning
• Networking and stakeholder engagement
• Clear writing and briefing abilities

 

Philosophy

 

Legal Research Assistant/ Research Writer

Philosophy graduates often underestimate their applicability in legal work. As a Legal Research Assistant, you gain hands-on experience with the law. Philosophy teaches you to reason, break down arguments, and think clearly, skills deeply relevant in legal research. You can research case law, statutes, and legal precedents, prepare legal memos, brief arguments, and reports, support attorneys by organizing research findings, and track changes in legal doctrine or statutory law. According to Zippia, a legal research assistant in the U.S. earns an average of $52,497/year. Meanwhile, Glassdoor data shows a broader range: from $62,517 to $111,508. 

 

Key Skills Required:

• Analytical reasoning
• Writing structured arguments
• Philosophical clarity in evaluating legal ideas
• Research discipline and rigor

 

Metaverse Ethicist

As the digital world expands, philosophy students can lead in virtual morality. They analyze social and ethical issues in virtual environments (VR, AR, metaverse), develop policies for user rights, identity, privacy, and inclusion in digital worlds, and advise developers on value alignment, fairness, and community norms. While detailed salary data for Metaverse Ethicist is not yet established, similar ethics and compliance roles are growing rapidly within tech and governance. 

 

Key Skills Required:

• Deep philosophical understanding of identity, ethics, and society
• Ability to apply moral theory in virtual contexts
• Policy design and stakeholder analysis
• Historical and cultural sensitivity

 

Logic/ Reasoning Tutor (University or Private)

Students across the world need clear guidance in critical thinking, test reasoning, and structured argument skills. Your philosophy background gives you a strong base to help them strengthen these skills. Universities, tutoring centers, and private platforms hire tutors to support learners who need clear explanations and step-by-step reasoning. According to U.S. tutoring salary reports, logic tutors earn $28 to $55 per hour, depending on location, qualification, and subject focus.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Teach logic, argument structure, and reasoning patterns
• Support students preparing for the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and college reasoning tests
• Provide short practice sessions with simple proofs, logical steps, and structured thinking.
• Create easy walkthroughs for complex questions
• Review student work and point out clear ways to improve

 

Bioethics Research Assistant

Health organizations, public agencies, and research groups hire bioethics staff to study questions linked to medical decisions, patient rights, and new health tools. Many teams need researchers who can review case reports, law, and ethics reviews with care. They earn $50,000 to $78,000 per year, based on health-sector salary reports from 2025.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Strong reasoning skills
• Clear writing
• Understanding of health-related guidelines
• Careful review of habits and attention to detail

 

Geography

 

Urban Planner Assistant

Rapid urbanization and smart-city initiatives are driving demand for planning staff who understand both geography and policy. Public agencies and city governments regularly hire assistants to help manage infrastructure growth, affordable housing efforts, and sustainable development. According to Glassdoor, urban planning assistants in the U.S. earn between $67,000 and $120,000/year, with a median of around $89,000.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Understanding of geographic data and spatial planning
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to work with GIS and mapping tools
• Project coordination and community engagement

 

GIS Technician

Zippia projects 9% job growth for GIS technicians over a decade, citing tens of thousands of expected job openings. Public infrastructure, environmental planning, and tech companies frequently rely on spatial data, driving consistent demand for technicians who understand geography. As a GIS Technician, you make maps and models that shape policy, business decisions, and environmental outcomes. According to Salary.com, GIS technicians in the U.S. make an average of $91,340/year, with a range between $83,143 and $99,459.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Spatial data analysis and mapping
• Knowledge of GIS software (e.g, ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Attention to detail
• Communication of technical spatial information in simple, visual formats

 

Climate-Risk Analyst for Tech Systems

As climate disruptions grow, corporations and governments apply pressure to assess financial risk, invest in adaptation, and plan long-term, increasing demand for climate-risk experts. Through this role, you help businesses make decisions to protect assets and people, and build a high-impact, future-facing career. According to Glassdoor, climate risk analysts in U.S. companies like S&P Global make between $73,000- $114,000/year, depending on experience. Meanwhile, at firms like SAS, the salary range for climate risk analysts is $79,000-$123,000/year.

 

Psychology

 

Behavioral Researcher

This role gives you a clear way to study human patterns while working in healthcare, education, or tech. They run studies, review behavioral data, and prepare short reports that guide planning in hospitals, schools, and private companies. They help teams understand how people act under stress, change habits, or respond to new systems. According to national salary reports on Career Explorer and Glassdoor, behavioral researchers earn $72,000 to $118,000 per year, depending on sector and experience.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Reasoning and observation
• Clear writing
• Basic Statistics
• Careful study habits

 

Training and Development Specialist

Training specialists build programs that help workers learn new skills. They review performance gaps, create learning plans, and run training sessions in companies, colleges, and nonprofit groups. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, training specialists earn a median salary of $67,790/year (2024). Demand stats are high as companies improve staff retention and skill growth.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Planning training goals with managers
• Building short lessons and learning modules
• Measuring progress through tests or tasks
• Improving current programs through feedback

 

User Behavior Analyst for Machine-Based Systems

Tech companies need specialists who understand how people act when they use machine-based systems. User behavior analysts do exactly the same. They study how people interact with machine tools, apps, and search systems. They review user sessions, identify confusing steps, and report barriers that reduce trust or comfort. Their input guides system designers and product teams. U.S. salary reports on Glassdoor place user-behavior roles at $92,000 to $145,000 per year.

 

Key Skills Required:

 

English/ Literature

 

Content Strategists

They plan content calendars, build tone guidelines, and ensure that every message fits the company's purpose. They work with marketing, product, and communications teams to shape clear, organized information for websites, campaigns, and public messages. According to Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter, they earn $74,000 to $122,000 per year. 

 

Key Skills Required:

• Plan and organize content for web pages and campaigns
• Tracking user response and improving message clarity
• Coordinate with marketing and communications teams
• Research and proofreading

 

Technical Writer

They create guides, manuals, tutorials, and support documents. They work with product teams, engineers, and customer-support staff to ensure that every instruction is clear and free of confusion. They earn a median salary of $79,960 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

Key Skills Required:

• Creating short instruction guides
• Rewriting complex steps in simple language
• Work with engineers and product teams
• Review documents for accuracy
• Build templates for manuals and help pages

 

Prompt Engineer

Writers now support the teams that build machine-based text tools. These systems depend on clean instructions, logical phrasing, and clear tone. Prompt engineers create instructions that guide machine-based systems to produce correct, safe, and aligned text outputs. They test phrasing, build templates, and document patterns that support predictable behavior. Glassdoor data from 2025 shows that prompt-focused roles earn $95,000 to $160,000 per year.

 

Required Skills:

• Writing instructions for language models
• Test phrasing across multiple tasks
• Identify errors and refine prompts
• Building prompt libraries for teams
• Recording patterns that support accuracy

 

Humanities and social science majors stand in a strong position as the U.S. job market shifts toward roles that require clear thinking, precise writing, expert judgment, and people-focused problem-solving. Use this guide as a starting point. Consider the roles that align with your major, interests, and career goals. Build skills through short courses, project work, internships, or volunteer experience. 

Note: Salary ranges and role trends are sourced from trusted U.S. sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, and other major hiring platforms.