10 Philosophy Careers to Consider (With Duties and Salaries)

Philosophers are typically skilled at creative problem-solving, communicating and applying critical thinking, which can make them suitable for a range of industries. If you have a philosophy degree, you can pursue careers in a variety of fields. Learning about the different job roles can help you find one that aligns with your passions and work ethic. In this article, we discuss 10 philosophy careers, provide their primary duties and average salaries and explain the transferable skills you may gain with a philosophy degree.

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10 philosophy careers

Here are 10 potential philosophy careers that you can choose from when you have a degree in philosophy:

1. Journalist

National average salary: $67,571 per year

Primary duties: The responsibilities of a journalist can vary from trend spotting and newsgathering to writing, researching and presenting the information. Journalists can work within a wide range of industries, including politics, international relations and popular culture. They may work for news outlets, magazines, television shows or industry publications to gather newsworthy stories and present facts to the public. Depending on the type of journalism that the individual specialises in, they can produce journalistic content for a print, online or televised publication. An understanding of philosophy and perception skills may help individuals find unique angles to examine a story.

Related: How to Become a Journalist

2. Paralegal

National average salary: $73,573 per year

Primary duties: While a paralegal's main daily responsibilities are likely to vary depending on the organisation they work for, they commonly consist of admin and organisational tasks, such as copying documents. Among the duties of paralegals are organising contracts and paperwork, conducting research on legal cases and preparing for trials. The logic, lateral thinking and communication skills individuals develop from a philosophy degree can help when performing the daily tasks of a paralegal to support and assist the lawyers.

3. Lawyer

National average salary: $99,824 per year

Primary duties: Lawyers can specialise in various types of law, including civil, corporal and criminal. Lawyers use their knowledge of the law to provide their clients with legal advice in a court setting. They represent clients during trials to present the case they have made, which may either defend their client or accuse another individual on behalf of their client. During trials, lawyers make persuasive arguments to convince the opinions of a jury and judge in favour of their client. The responsibilities of lawyers require creative thinking to find logical arguments, an asset that philosophy graduates are likely to possess.

4. Marketing consultant

National average salary: $63,731 per year

Primary duties: Marketing consultants help companies to market their brand and products in a way that suits current consumer behaviour. They do this by tracking and analysing the patterns of consumerism within the specific industry. A market consultant uses this information to create business plans, focusing on boosting sales for the company they work for. They may also work on marketing campaigns and create content for a variety of platforms, such as print, radio, web and television. Philosophy graduates may be able to apply their critical thinking skills when analysing consumer behaviour.

5. Teacher

National average salary: $87,252 per year

Primary duties: From primary to secondary school, teachers work with students of different levels. A secondary school teacher may specialise in a certain subject, whereas a primary school teacher teaches more general knowledge. A teacher's responsibilities during the school year include developing lesson plans, assigning homework, marking tests and working one-on-one with students. Teachers effectively teach children of all skill levels and backgrounds and may provide extra support academically and emotionally to students, which graduates of philosophy may find enriching.

Related: Interview Question: 'What Is Your Teaching Philosophy?'

6. Research consultant

National average salary: $97,611 per year

Primary duties: A research consultant's main responsibility is to thoroughly research specific areas of their industry to analyse and present the findings. They may present these findings to a company department or stakeholder to assist in informed decision-making. With this research, a research consultant can answer questions and help to solve problems for companies or clients. As philosophy majors are skilled in critical thinking, they may be more efficient in offering creative solutions to problems, which may be a process they enjoy. Consulting jobs are available in almost any field, including fashion, technology and finance.

7. Data analyst

National average salary: $91,152 per year
Primary duties: A data analyst collects financial data, interprets and relays it to stakeholders or companies in more understandable terms. Data analysts use this data to answer data-related questions, typically presented by their supervisors or company stakeholders, along with offering logical solutions to problems. A data analyst can help improve the strategies a business implements by guiding their decisions in a logical and mathematical way, using the interpreted data to justify their reasoning. They are also responsible for spotting emerging trends and patterns in data, which may be fitting for philosophy majors who often possess excellent attention to detail skills.

8. Health services administrator

National average salary: $71,135 per year

Primary duties: In the role of a health services administrator, one of the chief responsibilities is to oversee the daily operations of hospitals and other health service providers. A health services administrator may be in charge of one department, a floor or an entire facility. These professionals may influence their company's communications, budget, human resources team, administration and policies to ensure that the service operates effectively. These health professionals often work within a team to discuss and finalise company decisions and offer solutions to any problems. A philosophy graduate may thrive within these duties with their heightened communication skills.

9. University professor

National average salary: $187,814 per year

Primary duties: A professor teaches a university class in a subject specific to their own degree set. They are responsible for preparing lecture slides, creating coursework and producing relevant assessments for their students. A professor may teach solely undergraduate or post-graduate students depending on the university and their subject. In some cases, they can teach both. A professor may additionally carry out physical research in the field and produce published scholarly work, such as articles, books or general pieces of literature. For philosophy majors, becoming a university professor in philosophy may be a rewarding career.

Related: Your Guide to Academic Careers (With Salaries and Duties)

10. Psychologist

National average salary: $90,221 per year

Primary duties: Psychologists help people overcome any challenges they are facing in their personal lives. They may help clients from children to adult couples. Psychologists typically treat clients at a clinic in a private setting, enabling them to diagnose and treat disorders on a personal level. Psychologists use effective communication techniques, which philosophy majors may possess, to understand their patient's personalities, enabling them to take a more empathetic approach tailored to the personality of each individual. This can help them understand what a client may experience, allowing them to come up with solutions or coping techniques in a time-efficient way.

Related: How to Become an Educational Psychologist: A Career Guide

What skills does a philosophy graduate possess?

As a philosophy graduate, you are likely to have developed a range of transferable skills during your study. You can use these skills in a range of careers to help you succeed:

• Analytical thinking: A degree in philosophy develops your analytical thinking skills to delve more deeply into any problems that may be affecting a business or individual, helping you to seek a solution at the root of the issue. Possessing this skill ensures that you approach situations with a logical mindset, which can be great for working in marketing.

• Written and oral communication: You are likely to have strong written and oral communication skills as a result of frequent essay writing, presentations and debates. These transferrable skills are desirable in most job roles across industries, as they show that you could communicate effectively and persuasively with customers, colleagues and stakeholders.

• Great organisational skills: Gaining a philosophy degree requires excellent organisational skills to keep track of all your notes and research, both offline and online. This can show employers that you are responsible and trustworthy, with basic skills in IT.

• Creativity: Philosophy graduates develop their creative thinking skills throughout the course of their degree, which can optimise your problem-solving skills with more innovative ideas and solutions. Being able to see different perspectives on a story or set of events can also benefit many job roles suitable for philosophy graduates, from a therapist to a lawyer.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.