Jobs and Careers for Post-Graduate Philosophy Students

Most philosophy students with a four-year degree become employed in private companies or religious institutions

Graduate programs, medical schools, law schools and other degree programs accept about 52 percent of students with a bachelor's degree in philosophy (a four-year philosophy major). The majority seeking a job immediately upon graduation end up in the religious and private sectors. Other available jobs, for example, are mediator, counselor, software developer, creative or technical writer, science journalist, PR consultant, editor, publisher, curator or museum manager.

Teaching and Research

With a master's you can land a teaching position at a two-year college; with a Ph.D. you can wind up in teaching and research with a four-year college or university. In both positions, each year you are expected to teach three to eight philosophy courses, publish one or two academic articles and perform administrative tasks like serving on various committees. Two-year colleges normally require more teaching and less publishing than their four-year counterparts. The salary range is $32,000- $200,000.

Administration and More

Private companies and non-profits hire post-graduate philosophy students in various administrative positions. For example, in a large company, your job may consist of organizing training programs, seminars and conferences for the company's employees. Salary range: $110,000 and up (profit); $55,000 and up (non-profit).

Counseling is another area for post-graduate philosophy students. Some have become mediators (e.g., divorce mediators) or traditional counselors helping individuals and couples resolve their issues through guided conversation. The American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA) trains and certifies philosophers in counseling. Salary range: $35,000 and up.

Other positions for philosophy grads are creative or technical writers, science journalists, software developers, members of the clergy, curators and museum managers. Law schools and medical schools also accept post-graduate philosophy students into their degree programs. Salary range: $22,000 to $75,000.

Job Breakdown

Higher degree programs accept 52 percent of philosophy undergraduate majors (e.g., philosophy, law school, or medical school), according to The College Majors Handbook. The remainder are in executive administration or management in the private sector; religious positions in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques; journalism work as writers, agents, editors, broadcasters or PR consultants; with the rest in miscellaneous jobs (e.g., stocks and bonds, insurance, real estate or sales).

References

• Careers and Jobs
• The American Philosophical Practitioners Association
• Working Your Degree
• The College Majors Handbook; JIST Works, Inc.
• Salary Wizard; CollegeGrad.com

Resources

• Will Your Philosophy Degree Get You a Job? Studying Philosophy as Part of a Non-Academic Career