What is a generalist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Tina Kowalski

A generalist has a wide range of knowledge and skills in various fields rather than specializing in one specific area. They are versatile and adaptable, able to handle different tasks and responsibilities. Generalists work in various industries, including business, healthcare, education, and government. Their titles may include project manager, human resources manager, or consultant. Generalists have strong communication and problem-solving skills, allowing them to work effectively with others from different backgrounds and disciplines.

What general advice would you give to a generalist?

Tina Kowalski

Human resources manager, Kowalskis Markets

Keep ongoing. I find this field to be advantageous and satisfying. You have to enjoy interaction and people.

ScoreGeneralistUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,518

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.71%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 11.14%

Unknown 5.09%

White 70.01%

Gender

female 62.24%

male 37.76%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a generalist?

Pros

Opportunities for personal and professional growth
Collaborative work environment
Variety in daily routine
Higher earning potential due to diverse skill set
Better understanding of the company as a whole

Cons

Difficulty in finding a job that matches all skills and interests
Potential for burnout due to high workload or stress
May not be able to provide detailed solutions to complex problems
Potential for decreased job satisfaction if unable to focus on one specific area of interest
Potential for being spread too thin and not performing at optimal capacity

Key steps to become a generalist

Explore generalist education requirements

Most common generalist degrees

Bachelor's

55.0 %

Associate

18.4 %

High School Diploma

12.3 %

Start to develop specific generalist skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Floor	21.23%
Store Sales	17.11%
Customer Loyalty	13.63%
Sales Growth	11.64%
Customer Service	5.97%

Research generalist duties and responsibilities

Manage and maintain PBX and VoIP phone systems at multiple locations.
Manage multiple lab projects for the implementation of new lab analyzers as well as LIS functionality.
Plan, install and manage new locations build outs with complete VPN connectivity and VOIP utilization for the multiple locations.
Manage UAB and HSF faculty recruitment, staffing needs, terminations, compensation, records management, employee relations and retention.

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