11 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get with a Liberal Arts Degree

Students who pursue a liberal arts major gain valuable workplace skills—such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving—that they can apply to many jobs. In fact, many employers seek candidates with a liberal arts background, knowing they'll possess certain transferable skills that tend to contribute to a company’s overall diversity and, in turn, foster more productive teams.

While earning your Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at a liberal arts college, you’ll gain an interdisciplinary education in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences. With that breadth, you can explore a variety of roles after graduation. Liberal arts graduates go on to work in numerous industries, including education, business, management, and sales, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1].

What is a liberal arts degree?

A liberal arts degree is typically a four-year degree available in a variety of majors. As a liberal arts degree student, you’ll complete multidisciplinary coursework and choose a major in a discipline such as English, history, sociology, psychology, or economics. During this program, you’ll develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare you for various careers.

11 liberal arts degree jobs to consider

Explore several high-paying jobs you can pursue with your liberal arts degree. 

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of September 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

1. Technical writer 

Median annual US salary: $102,000 [2]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 1 percent [3]

Technical writers translate dense concepts into clear and comprehensive written products. They often work with subject matter experts to create instruction manuals or guides to help users navigate products and processes. Technical writers work in many industries, including business, technology, and finance. 

Related liberal arts subjects: English, communication studies, natural sciences, math

Key transferable skills: Researching, writing, communicating, problem-solving, critical thinking 

2. Human resources specialist 

Median annual US salary: $70,000 [4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 6 percent [5]

Companies require astute human resource teams to identify and hire the best talent. It’s a crucial part of keeping a company operating and thriving. Human resource specialists either work to recruit top talent or onboard new hires to make sure they’re settled in their roles. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Psychology, sociology, communication studies, foreign languages, philosophy 

Key transferable skills: Evaluating, interviewing, empathy, coordinating, listening, planning

3. Graphic designer 

Median annual US salary: $64,000 [6]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 2 percent [7]

Graphic designers use their creativity and technical know-how to generate visual elements that help companies showcase their ideas, brands, products, and services. Factoring in elements like layout and color choice, graphic designers use key tools, like Figma and Adobe, in order to shape a visual story that stands out.

Related liberal arts subjects: Art, art history, creative studies

Key transferable skills: Creativity, planning, coordinating, communication, collaboration, decision making

4. Mediator 

Median annual US salary: $144,000 [8]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 4 percent [9]

Disagreements or disputes naturally arise in life. As a mediator, you work with parties to understand their issue and reach a new outcome. As such, mediators often must help parties regulate their emotions and parse facts to achieve a fair agreement for everyone involved. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Psychology, communication studies, sociology 

Key transferable skills: Evaluating, empathy, interviewing, listening, communication, record keeping, critical thinking

5. Translator

Median annual US salary: $81,000 [10]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 2 percent [11]

Translators render information from one language to another in written form. They can work in a variety of industries—such as business, technology, and publishing—thanks to the needs that many different companies have when communicating with clients in other countries. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Foreign languages, English, communication studies, creative writing 

Key transferable skills: Interviewing, listening, communication, adaptability, patience, collaboration 

6. Market researcher

Median annual US salary: $70,000 [12]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 7 percent [13]

As a market researcher, you would gather information about sales trends, products, and customers and then study that data to create marketing strategies for the future. Another one of your duties may be to analyze the market conditions and forecast how well a product might sell. You would utilize surveys, research reports, and polls to collect the information necessary to analyze the impact of product changes and how best to market them. 

Related liberal arts subjects: English, math, philosophy, history, psychology, political science, sociology 

Key transferable skills: Communication, analytical skills, creativity, business awareness, problem-solving

7. Public relations specialist 

Median annual US salary: $82,000 [14]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 5 percent [15]

Companies need professionals who can help them maintain their public image and share important news or developments about what they do. Public relations specialists often work to synthesize a company’s narrative and identify ways to promote it to the media and the public. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Communication studies, English, psychology 

Key transferable skills: Communication, coordinating, planning, public speaking, diligence, problem-solving, teamwork

8. Event planner 

Median annual US salary: $73,000 [16]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 5 percent [17]

Event planners coordinate different occasions, either for a company as an employee or independently as a consultant. They often work with a company’s stakeholders to identify an event's primary goals and then find and book venues, hire vendors, and synchronize other logistics. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Communication studies, psychology, sociology 

Key transferable skills: Planning, budgeting, problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, attention to detail, communication 

9. Social media manager

Median annual US salary: $71,000 [18]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 6 percent [19]

Social media managers oversee a company or brand’s presence on social platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram. They often have to be strong writers and editors to ensure that the copy they (or their team) write is on-brand and error-free. They are also typically responsible for brainstorming new social campaigns and scheduling posts. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Writing, communicating, planning, collaborating, attention to detail, problem-solving

Key transferable skills: Evaluating, interviewing, empathy, coordinating, listening, planning

10. Substance abuse counselor 

Median annual US salary: $65,000 [20]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 17 percent [21]

As a substance abuse counselor, you help people dealing with substance abuse and behavioral issues, such as drug or alcohol addiction, eating disorders, gambling addiction, and more. They either work with individuals one-on-one or in group settings to help them identify their issues, alter their behavior, and work toward recovery. 

Related liberal arts subjects: Psychology, sociology, philosophy, rehabilitation services 

Key transferable skills: Empathy, listening, interviewing, evaluating, facilitating group discussions, defining needs, organization 

11. Fundraiser 

Median annual US salary: $110,000 [22]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 4 percent [23]

Fundraisers work to raise donations for a company or organization through various events, campaigns, and other efforts. Typically, they work in the non-profit sector, identifying and building relationships with donors, launching campaigns or initiatives, and successfully meeting quarterly or yearly quotas to keep their organization running.

Related liberal arts subjects: Psychology, communication studies, English, sociology 

Key transferable skills: Planning, coordinating, developing rapport, budgeting, communicating, attention to detail, critical thinking, salesmanship 

Read more: Bachelor of Arts: Areas of Study, Careers, and More

5 ways to make the most of your liberal arts degree

Unlike a degree from a four-year college or university in a subject that prepares you for a specific career path, such as business or computer science, a liberal arts degree can prepare you for many different types of work. You can strengthen your job candidacy while still working toward your degree by following the tips below. 

1. Consider interning.

Use your time earning a liberal arts degree effectively by finding internships that allow you to explore at least one or two different types of work or industries. Interning is an experience you can feature on your resume that helps you build connections and is an opportunity to strengthen your skills. 

2. Build a portfolio.

For certain professions, such as graphic design, social media, and technical writing, it helps to have a few examples of your abilities when you begin looking for work. If possible, seek out freelance or volunteer work and add what you produce for a client to your portfolio. These can also be excellent opportunities to practice your craft and further develop your skill set.

3. Expand your network.

Begin making connections that can help you find employment after graduation. As a student, you can begin building relationships with your professors, peers, part-time coworkers, and any others you interact with throughout your degree program. Networking can be especially beneficial when you begin applying for jobs. Considering that the average job posting receives many applications, it may be helpful to know someone (or know someone who knows someone) at a company when you apply.

4. Request informational interviews.

Similar to networking, reach out to people who do work that sounds interesting or who work in an industry you’re interested in learning more about. Ask them for an informational interview, and spend 30 minutes or so discussing their work and how they got started so you have a better idea about what you need to do. 

5. Search job listings.

Before you graduate, take time to research what you’d like to do and the common skills you’ll need to do it. If you can dedicate any time to learning specific tools or programs or refining any major workplace skills, you may be a stronger applicant in the long run. 

Stay up to date on career tips and trends

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn to connect with other liberal arts degree holders and gain career tips. Additionally, explore free, digital resources to build skills and expand your knowledge to increase your job readiness:

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Explore career options: Digital Marketing Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specializations

• Watch on YouTube: How to Become a Social Media Manager 

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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