Careers in Sociology

According to the 2021 Sociology Alumni Survey, students who graduated from SU with 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, SU Sociology 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 SU sociology 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 SU sociology 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, SU Sociology 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 SU sociology majors are now, see our Alumni Career Info.

See also Great Jobs for Sociology Majors by Stephen Lambert available in the SU Career Services and the American Sociology Association 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 SU sociology 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.