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Job outlook for communications professors in the United States
Are communications professor jobs in demand?
Communications professor job and salary trends over time
Communications professor jobs over time
Communications professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 502 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 524 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 529 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 522 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 509 | 0.00% |
Average communications professor salary over time
Communications professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,721 | $40.25 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $82,225 | $39.53 | --0.1% |
| 2023 | $82,267 | $39.55 | --0.5% |
| 2022 | $82,690 | $39.75 | --1.5% |
| 2021 | $83,949 | $40.36 | +9.4% |
Communications professor jobs by state
Most common states for communications professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 280 | 40% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 115 | 18% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 125 | 13% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 111 | 13% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 919 | 11% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 82 | 11% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 61 | 11% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 72 | 10% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 584 | 9% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 524 | 9% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 380 | 9% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 290 | 9% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 176 | 9% |
| 14 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 164 | 9% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 117 | 9% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 96 | 9% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,526 | 8% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 454 | 8% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 85 | 8% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 492 | 7% |
Communications Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of communications professor experts
North Carolina State University
Skidmore College
California University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield University
Humboldt State University
Hiram College
What will help Communications Professors increase their earning potential?
Alex Holte PhD: When you are starting out at any career, it is important to negotiate your salary. Many candidates feel that they have to accept their first offer, but in reality, at many jobs, there is some room for negotiation. Be mindful however, to not request a salary that is much higher than what is being offered as they may feel like a compromise would not be possible and move on to the next candidate.
Aurelie Matheron
Assistant Professor of FrenchSkidmore College
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help Communications Professors increase their earning potential?
Aurelie Matheron: Do some research online about how much someone earns at your stage of the career. If there is a significant gap, point out (diplomatically) that, because of your extensive experience in XYZ, you would like to get a X% increase in your salary. Be reasonable: if you want a 3% increase, ask for 5% (not 10% or more). Justify your negotiation: why should they pay me more? What experience can I show them to justify my request? If you have a higher offer from another place, you can say that “I have received another generous offer and would like to know about the possibility for matching that offer.” Salary is not the only thing you can negotiate: office space, computer/laptop, sabbaticals, course release, etc. Again, be reasonable: if you think you are entitled to XYZ requests, you also have to show why.
What type of skills will young Communications Professors need?
Dr. Christina Fisanick: College graduates in 2021 and beyond need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Communications Professors to find work opportunities?
Bia Bernum: Because so much work is remote now, new graduates have a lot of choices. My students usually want to stay close to home for their first job. Thankfully, students who graduate with a degree in communication can get a job at a large multinational company, a national non-profit, or small family-owned business. Their skills fit anywhere.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Communications Professors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Joshua Frye Ph.D.: Both urban and rural communities are in need of Communication graduates. However, unlike fields such as Nursing, Communication graduates do not have a predetermined career path. This means that Communication graduates wishing to find meaningful work within their field must be flexible, creative, and willing to experiment. They are having a clear vision of what kinds of organizational cultures and work tasks you would find resonant, challenging, and fulfilling helps tremendously in building a viable and successful career.
Conduct informational interviews, consider an internship, network, and connect with your Career and Advising support systems to gain clarity into your goals and what it will take to get there. Opportunities exist in most major cities, such as San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Seattle, as well as in mid-sized and even smaller communities in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Graduates interested in media, advertising, and PR should consider New York and Chicago areas, while those interested in progressive non-profits and government work may want to look toward cities such as Austin and Seattle. Media and entrepreneurial-minded folks should turn to places such as Boston, San Francisco, and Minneapolis.
David Strukel
Assistant Professor in CommunicationHiram College
Burton D. Morgan Center for Integrated Entrepreneurship
How do you envision technology impacting Communications Professors in the next 5 years?
David Strukel: I think there will be continued growth in the online tech field. The pandemic has forced us to move in a different direction, from teaching to sports to concerts to politics. While many fields have done great at moving things online, I think the emphasis will continue to be on how to make it more personal. How can we establish more meaningful connections? How can we make the online communication experience have more of human touch or more "us"? If our cars and smartphones can figure out our preferences and likes, I think there will be more research into how we can make online meetings and events more personalized.