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According to the 2021 Sociology Alumni Survey, students who graduated from ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõwith a degree in sociology are working in the following sectors:

• Government
• Education
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Sales/Marketing
• Research
• Legal
• Military
• Criminal Justice

View a breakdown of these occupations

Specifically, ³ÉÈ˶¶ÒõSociology Alumni have moved on to work in the following occupations:

• Deputy Attorney General
• Paralegal
• Marketing Coordinator
• Equal Employment Specialist
• Social Worker
• Correctional Case Management Manager
• Grant Writer

And occupations for our recent graduates include:

• Program Analyst US Department of Justice
• Advocate for Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Health Services Manager
• Maryland Parole and Probation Department
• Behavioral Health Advocate
• Financial Data Specialist
• Youth Health Outreach Specialist
• Delaware State Police Recruit
• Homeless Case Manager
• Health Services Recruiter
• Manager Delaware Office of Equity
• Family Advocate in Mental Health Services
• Team Coordinator for Autism Therapy
• Local TV News Studio Tech

And others! For more information about what you can do with a degree in sociology, contact Dr. Tim Dunn at tjdunn@salisbury.edu.

Like most majors in the liberal arts the undergraduate major in sociology does not train students for one specific job. Think of it instead as a foundation for many possible careers - many that help others and improve society while also providing a comfortable income. How you use your sociology degree depends on your answer to several questions:

What social issues are important to you? Who do you want to work with and/or serve? What kind of work setting appeals to you? Do you have an interest in receiving additional education for a specific occupation? For instance, 52% of ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõsociology alumni attain graduate degrees in a wide range of fields, including sociology, social work, education, counseling, business, criminal justice, law, public policy, and public health.

Sociological jobs are available in a wide range of settings including colleges and universities research institutes, company human resources departments, agencies at all levels of government and non-profit organizations.

Median income for undergraduate degree holders in sociology nationwide is $46,200 for early career (5 years after graduation) and $72,500 for mid-career (10+ years), according to payscale.com.

Median income for ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõsociology alumni is $60,000 - $80,000 (2021 alumni survey, question asked by range).

The American Sociological Association's Careers in Sociology suggests the following areas for seeking employment:

• social services--in rehabilitation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration
• community work--in fund-raising for social service organizations, nonprofits, child-care or community development agencies, or environmental groups
• corrections--in probation, parole, or other criminal justice work
• business--in advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance, real estate, personnel work, training, or sales
• college settings--in admissions, alumni relations, or placement offices
• health services--in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation counseling, health planning, hospital admissions, and insurance companies
• publishing, journalism, and public relations--in writing, research, and editing
• government services--in federal, state, and local government jobs in such areas as transportation, housing, agriculture, and labor
• teaching--in elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with appropriate teacher certification.

Here are a few of the many jobs that sociology majors do:

• probation officer
• employment counselor
• human resources specialist
• family counselor
• addictions counselor
• research assistant
• police officer
• youth worker
• correctional service officer
• volunteer coordinator
• family planning counselor
• admissions counselor
• community service agency worker
• group home provider
• school counselor
• interviewer
• rehabilitation counselor

Specifically, ³ÉÈ˶¶ÒõSociology Alumni have moved on to work in the following occupations:

• Deputy Attorney General
• Paralegal
• Marketing Coordinator
• Equal Employment Specialist
• Social Worker
• Correctional Case Management Manager
• Grant Writer

And occupations for our recent graduates include:

• Program Analyst US Department of Justice
• Advocate for Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Health Services Manager
• Maryland Parole and Probation Department
• Behavioral Health Advocate
• Financial Data Specialist
• Youth Health Outreach Specialist
• Delaware State Police Recruit
• Homeless Case Manager
• Health Services Recruiter
• Manager Delaware Office of Equity
• Family Advocate in Mental Health Services
• Team Coordinator for Autism Therapy
• Local TV News Studio Tech

For more information about where ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõsociology majors are now, see our Alumni Career Info.

See also Great Jobs for Sociology Majors by Stephen Lambert available in the ³ÉÈ˶¶ÒõCareer Services and the career information.

You can enhance your job prospects by branching out to cultivate a particular skill or secondary area of study. There are many possibilities:

• A second major or minor in a field related to sociology such as psychology, political science, or human geography
• An interdisciplinary minor such as gerontology, urban planning, or Law, Justice, and Advocacy.
• One or more courses devoted to a particular skill or interest such as a modern foreign language (e.g., Spanish), computer training or statistics.

A degree in sociology prepares students for many graduate fields. Over half of ³ÉÈ˶¶Òõsociology alumni go on to earn graduate degrees (mainly master’s) in a wide range of disciplines, particularly in professional/occupational fields such as, social work, education, counseling, business, criminal justice, law, public policy, public health and a small portion in sociology.