International Studies Majors: Salary and Career Facts

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Jobs for international studies majors are available in several different fields, including business and politics. Learn about some of these jobs, an international relations salary, the international studies major, and more.

International Relations Salary

While there are many different degree options in the field of international relations and international studies, PayScale.com reported the salaries for a few of these degrees. The website reported that graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations made a median annual salary of $63,000 in November 2019, while those with a BA in International Studies made a median annual salary of $58,000 during the same time period. PayScale.com also reported that graduates with a BA in Global and International Studies made a median annual salary of $54,000 in November 2019.

PayScale.com did note that these median salaries could vary for a number of reasons. A few factors to consider that were likely to change this salary included specific job title, employer, and years of work experience.

Jobs for International Studies Majors

Bachelor's degree programs in international studies can help prepare students for a wide range of careers that usually have some kind of international component. These programs may provide students with different concentration options and/or require coursework from a range of international topics, such as foreign language and world economics, which help prepare students for careers in a variety of fields. Some job titles that graduates with a bachelor's in international studies may hold include:

International market research analyst
International aid worker
Foreign service officer
International sales specialist
International human resource specialist
International trade specialist
Foreign correspondent
Program advisor, international students
International project coordinator
Travel industry coordinator

Information for International Studies Careers

Knowledge of international issues and workings can have applications to many different fields, including journalism, business, and education. Below, we explore a few of the possible career options for international studies majors in more detail.

Market Research Analyst

Domestic and international business may need market research analysts to help them study and interpret international markets and consumer behavior. These analysts help their organization predict the potential of a product and figure out who wants the product and how much they are willing to pay for it. Other job duties may include:

Utilizing statistical software
Monitoring sales trends
Collecting data with surveys, polls, etc.
Writing reports

Human Resource Specialist

Students wishing to become a human resource manager may begin their career as a human resource specialist. Those with a background in international studies may perform typical human resource duties, but may work for an international organization or organizations that hire a lot of international employees.

Human resource specialists are primarily responsible for the hiring and training process of employees. They may be responsible for:

Recruiting employees and interviewing them
Assisting with new employee orientation
Maintaining employee records
Discussing benefits and other job details with employees

Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts

International studies majors with good writing and communication skills may consider applying their international knowledge to becoming a journalist who focuses on international topics. Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts report on an array of news topics to the public in various forms of media, including television, websites, and newspapers. Specific job duties for these professionals may include:

Researching stories and collecting facts
Preparing articles and checking for accuracy
Presenting information in an easy-to-understand way for the public
Reviewing and updating articles as needed