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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,839 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,712 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,622 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,529 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,435 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,284 | $35.71 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $72,250 | $34.74 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $70,852 | $34.06 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $69,869 | $33.59 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $68,920 | $33.13 | +0.0% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 674 | 97% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 366 | 38% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 424 | 32% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,580 | 28% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 203 | 27% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,562 | 25% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,125 | 25% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 453 | 24% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,297 | 22% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 430 | 21% |
| 11 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,309 | 20% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,367 | 20% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,305 | 20% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,227 | 20% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,200 | 20% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 644 | 20% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 589 | 20% |
| 18 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 5,316 | 19% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 329 | 19% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 162 | 19% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poway | 3 | 6% | $81,837 |
| 2 | Burlington | 1 | 4% | $85,031 |
| 3 | Rockville | 2 | 3% | $82,141 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $82,399 |
| 5 | Colorado Springs | 4 | 1% | $75,300 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | 3 | 1% | $64,754 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu | 3 | 1% | $62,494 |
| 8 | Huntsville | 2 | 1% | $70,315 |
| 9 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $51,893 |
| 10 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $75,328 |
| 11 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $78,149 |
| 12 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $81,822 |
| 13 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $80,385 |
| 14 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $84,117 |
| 15 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $85,172 |
| 16 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $75,301 |
| 17 | Fremont | 1 | 0% | $91,357 |
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Seattle University
University of Hawaii at Hilo
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Lebanon Valley College
Texas Tech University
University of Minnesota - Duluth
Rollins College

Wright State University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA

Saint Xavier University

Washington State University
Sabri Yilmaz Ph.D.: One general advice would be to get familiar with your major through internships or volunteer/paid work before graduation. In this case, interning in companies with international ties or relations would be an appropriate target for the students. We require our Information Systems and Human Capital Management students to complete some level of internship before graduation. While we do not require it for the other majors/minors, we strongly encourage our students to be involved in internships. I'd also recommend graduates try to network with colleagues in similar fields as much as possible. The internships again can play a crucial role in finding that. The bottom line is they would be able to stay informed more through those networks.
Janna Dorman: Ask for more. It's really that simple. And uncomfortable for most people. When you receive a job offer, it's often from HR rather than the person you'll be working for. Use this to your advantage. Yes, it's awkward to ask for more money, but it's less awkward to ask a person you'll likely not talk to again after accepting the job. Starting at a higher salary means that any raise percentage is based on a higher amount, allowing you to maximize your salary potential.
Ivette Cruzado PhD: Never stop learning: pursue an advanced degree, attend workshops and seminars, and obtain certifications and specialized training.
Maylon Hanold EdD: Be ready to work hours different from the 9 to 5. Working in the entertainment industry can feel overwhelming at first with long days. It is also a fast-paced environment. Learn to focus on one thing at a time within that chaos. You will work much more efficiently and effectively. It will take a lot of discipline, but you will achieve success easier than if you fall into the myth of multi-tasking as a superpower. It's not. Your focus is the real superpower to develop, and it's hard in an environment such as the entertainment industry, but it's achievable. Always do the best you can do in any role you have or responsibilities you are given. Keep your focus on the present job you have. If you do that, the future jobs will take care of themselves. In a world that is characterized by volatility and change, identifying a specific path towards your dream job will only end up being frustrating. It will also like close you off to opportunities you never considered but end up being exactly what you like doing. Keep the dream job as a goal, but know that it's setting your direction for excellence, and that's all you need to be doing. Finally, be sure to take some time away from work as well in order to recover. This doesn't mean taking all the time you want from work and refusing to go the extra mile. It means going the extra mile and being sure to balance that with some solid downtime. This won't add up to a lot of time, but regular, deliberate rest time will keep you in the industry for longer. It may be that you find out you're not enjoying the hustle of entertainment, and that's ok. You can always pivot.
Dr. Eric Austin: One set of skills that are always in demand are analytical skills. I consistently recommend, generally to my students' discomfort, that they take more research methods and statistics classes. My sense from talking with hiring managers across many organizations and agencies is that even if those skills aren't at the core of a particular position they are seeking to fill, candidates with well-developed analytical skills are viewed as bringing a valuable, rigorous and systematic approach to the work they are hired to do. That is, having a good analytical skill set is seen as making these potential job candidates good critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Those analytical skills, along with the strong writing and communications abilities social sciences graduates tend to have, is a powerful combination. There is another skill set, which I sometimes describe as being an "organizational translator", that I think is going to be increasingly important going into the future. That is, as organizations and the jobs within them become increasingly disciplinarily or technically specialized, there is a growing risk that, for example, program staff will have a difficult time communicating the nuance of their programs or specific needs of their clientele with technical staff like database developers and data analysts, or even HR and finance staff. As a result, I think it will be increasingly important for some portion of an agency's staff to know enough about, for example, the nuance of a human services program and its clientele AND the technical attributes of database development or data management systems, to help translate or build a shared understanding between program staff and technical staff.
Professor Kathryn Besio: UH Hilo undergraduates are more well-prepared than they know for many positions, especially the strong students. One alumnae shared with me that had she known more about the skills required for her current position as a county planner, she would not have gone to graduate school because she was already prepared for the work. That was great to hear because it meant that the courses UH Hilo Geography and Environmental Sciences require prepares students for the workforce, and puts them in a stronger negotiating position for higher salaries.
Brett Zollinger Ph.D.: Make a strong case about the value you will bring to meeting organizational needs. This requires doing the serious homework on what an organization does and the likely most crucial tasks for the position a person is applying to fill. Then, draw connections for yourself between those tasks and the knowledge and skills from your portfolio. You'll be better able during an interview to quickly mention the match of your knowledge/skills to the demands of the job. Also, ask questions about the organization and the position during the interview, like "what kinds of things would be most beneficial to the organization from this position?" or "how have others excelled in this role?" People making hiring decisions want to see a genuinely curious person, who appears to check multiple boxes of knowledge/skill-to-position requirements. And be clear that you are eager to learn while on the job, too.
Brett Zollinger Ph.D.: Fully utilize the advice and resources of your university's career services office. Build a skills and experience portfolio that is error free. Use that portfolio as your LinkedIn profile or to update and bolster your LinkedIn profile. During the job search, customize every application to the organization's mission, goals, and responsibilities listed in the job ad. Network - tell friends and relatives that you are searching for jobs. Yes, this may yield a lot of notifications for positions in which you're not interested, but it's far better to have many than few leads. If it comes down to holding out for the "perfect position" accepting offer(s) that are more tangential to your interests but are still using your academic knowledge and training, do not hold out for perfect! Sometimes it's not easy to see the many avenues for growth and for realizing your full potential to contribute to an organization before you start. Also, if it turns out that you, indeed, want to keep searching after landing the first position, go for it.
Stephen Shackelford MBA: USE YOUR TIME IN COLLEGE TO DO TWO THINGS, GAIN SKILLS THAT WILL DIFFERENTIATE YOU FROM OTHERS, AND NETWORK WITH EMPLOYERS, CAREER FAIRS AND AN INTERNSHIP ARE GREAT WAYS TO SET YOURSELF APART FROM THE CROWD.
Robert Hyers FASM: Do your homework about market rates for salary, and ask for what you're worth. Beyond that, be thoughtful about how to add value for your employer and for their customers. Be part of the solution.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Ronald Larson: I view salary as the fruit of being very good at what you do, and being very good generally requires you to love what you do enough to spend not just time but concentration on it. A good salary will generally eventually follow, especially in fields in which there is high demand. (The performing arts (music, acting) are a different story: unless you are extraordinarily good or lucky, these can be great hobbies, but only few make well-paying careers in them.) Generally, I have found greater pleasure in tasks well done than in the pay received for these tasks. Some of the greatest rewards are not monetary.
Dr. Lou Manza: Research has always required strong critical thinking ability along with effective written and oral communication skills, and I see those as still being essential in the coming years. If anything, one needs to be able to take their obtained data and be able to communicate the results to the general public in a way that the latter can understand. While other researchers can follow the language specific to research design and statistics, many people in the general public cannot - but when one is working on research in an organization that has a public-facing component, it's critical to be able to communicate clearly that external constituency.
Dr. Katherine Fabel: Don't be afraid to negotiate for more money when you have your job offer, and ask until you hear "no." It can be intimidating, but there is often room for negotiation beyond the initial job offer. Beyond that, I have seen that graduates who pick career paths that they are passionate about tend to excel in those roles and rise through the ranks. Our alumni have a lot of opportunities to work in areas that they find personally meaningful, and to make a positive impact on the world; when you care deeply about the work you do, as many of our Sociology graduates do, you tend to be successful.
Texas Tech University
Public Administration
Daniel Scheller: Education and training do not stop upon graduation. Keep acquiring skills and training that are in demand in your field so as to not become obsolete.
University of Minnesota - Duluth
Marketing
Ahmed Maamoun Ph.D.: The news from the job market is quite startling. A recent study from McKinsey & Company
estimates that nearly half of all U.S. jobs will be automated by 2030. Artificial Intelligence,
machine learning, and robots will make routine and conventional jobs obsolete. Most of what
students are learning will be irrelevant and dated by the time they graduate. This highlights the
need for emphasizing not just the academic abilities of graduates, but their soft and professional
skills as well. Graduates (regardless of their undergraduate major) who demonstrate a capacity to
think critically, communicate clearly, learn adaptively, make ethical decisions, work well with
others, and solve complex problems will stand a better chance of surviving in that ever-changing
job market. For example, in one survey, 93% of employers reported that "a candidate's
demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is
more important than his or her undergraduate major."
Rollins College
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, And Population Biology
Zach Russell: Let's say you like your job and still have that passion for your work. You will not be awarded for that by most organizations that are hiring. Thus, it is essential to advocate for fair compensation. In order to maximize your salary potential, you will need to invest in yourself. Try to acquire the specialized skills and certifications that are both in demand and difficult or rare. Consider pursuing advanced degrees and other qualifications to distinguish yourself from other candidates in the applicant pool. You should also aim to research industry standards and salary benchmarks for your desired role so that you can negotiate with confidence during job offers. In addition to salary, which can often be difficult to negotiate, also consider the importance of benefits and other perks, such as healthcare, retirement plans, and opportunities to further subsidize professional development when evaluating offers. You must be proactive and driven in seeking advancement within your work and frankly, should be prepared for lateral moves towards sectors with higher salary potential. Be strategic in your dedication to your work and you can position yourself for success and financial stability in your career.

Wright State University
Information Systems and Supply Chain Management Department
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: There are several skills that will evolve in the next few years. Here are four key ones that I
believe will persist for a while.
a) Cybersecurity: With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, understanding
cybersecurity principles and practices will become crucial for protecting organizational
data.
b) Cloud Computing and Services: As more businesses move to cloud platforms for
scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, skills in managing and optimizing cloud services,
including understanding of various cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), will
become critical.
c) Machine Learning, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: The ability to analyze and
interpret large datasets to inform business decisions will continue to be invaluable. Skills
in data visualization, statistical analysis, and the use of analytics tools (e.g., Python, R,
SQL) will be essential. Also, understanding the principles of AI, machine learning, and
their applications in business processes can provide strategic advantages in optimizing
operations, customer service, and decision-making.
d) Project Management and Agile Methodologies: Efficient project management skills,
including familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or Kanban methodologies, will be important for
leading and implementing technology projects successfully.
Daniel Asamoah Ph.D.: The beginning of your career is a time for exploration and growth. Be proactive in seeking
opportunities to learn and develop while considering these four key pointers.
a) Stay Updated with Technology: The only constat is change. To this end, I implore all new
graduates to understand that Technology evolves rapidly, and keeping yourself updated
with the latest trends and tools in the field can give you a competitive edge. Tech blogs,
webinars, online courses are plausible avenues for keeping yourself apprised of
changes in the field. Also be open to change.
b) Develop a Strong Technical and Business Acumen: MIS is a unique field that combines
technology with business. Strengthen your understanding of both domains. Whichever
domain you find yourself (e.g. healthcare, sports etc.) learn how businesses in that
domain operate and how technology can be leveraged to solve related business
problems. If possible, pursue technical certifications (e.g. in cyber security, project
management, analytics etc.) that matches the trajectory that you would want to take your
career to.
c) Enhance Your Communication Skills: As someone who will act as a bridge between the
technical team and non-technical stakeholders, being able to communicate complex
technical information in an understandable manner is crucial. Practice both your written
and verbal communication skills.
d) Build a Professional Network: Networking is key in any career, but especially in MIS
where technology and business needs constantly evolve. Attend industry conferences,
join professional organizations, and connect with peers and professionals on LinkedIn.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Public Policy Department
Elizabeth Sasser: Employers tell us that they value teamwork, strong written and verbal communication skills, and sound time management skills. Our Public Policy Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill helps students hone these soft skills through an experiential education course where students work with a non-profit or government client on a real-world policy problem. In this class, students also sharpen their professional etiquette, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for pursuing a career in public policy.

Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy - CSWA
Nicolle Zellner (on behalf of members of the CSWA): Do your research and be prepared to negotiate. Find out what the starting salary is in your field in that area, then negotiate for a higher starting salary while keeping in mind how low you're going to accept. Women and people of color should ask for even higher starting salaries, since, on average, they earn 18% less than White men.

Saint Xavier University
The Graham School of Management
Dr. Faisal Rahman Ph.D.: There is significant variation in salaries from one field to another. Those who have prior experience (either through part-time jobs or internships) tend to get better starting salaries. Increases in salary is mostly based on performance/productivity. A future manager must be able to manage their subordinates and their boss/supervisor. They must also be able to work with others as most jobs require working with a team.

Washington State University
School of Economic Sciences
Mark Gibson: Economics isn't meant to prepare graduates for a particular field after graduation. Rather, it imparts a set of analytical and quantitative skills, that are highly valued, in a number of fields, including finance, banking, data analytics, government policy, and law.