The Most Popular Political Science Major Jobs
Even in this poor economy, there are a number of political science major jobs available. This is one of those career fields that offers opportunities in both private industry and the government sector. In addition, the subfields of study qualify individuals for a wide assortment of careers. For these reasons, the subject is a great choice for anyone pursuing higher education for the first time or as a career changer.
One of the most popular political science major jobs is that of a foreign service officer. These individuals are also called political officers and they usually work in Washington, DC, the hub of U.S. politics. There are also many overseas assignments, including working at a U.S. embassy in another country, as a diplomat, or as a foreign representative. Main job responsibilities revolve around developing relationships and conducting ongoing communication with foreign governments.
A Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer is another of the popular political science major jobs. This is the job in this career field for which most people apply. As the world becomes more politically unstable, the need for CIA officers increases. These individuals work in the U.S. and abroad, assessing how government policies affect our country. The information is transmitted to the government, which then makes any needed adjustments to relevant diplomatic relationships.
Those seeking political science major jobs that have direct involvement with government elections will enjoy working as a political campaign manager. This individual is charged with managing the political campaign of someone running for local or federal office. Campaign managers conduct research and then design and execute a political campaign that should help the candidate win the election.
One of the other popular careers in political science is a political lobbyist. Individuals holding this position must be well-versed in various aspects of society. They must be aware of the issues that affect the population, government policies regarding these issues, and voter positions on the topics. Lobbyists get legislator votes regarding specific issues, enabling relevant legislation to be passed or vetoed. They may work for the government or for an environmental group or nonprofit association.
As far as salaries for political science major jobs go, the U.S. Department of state reports that the salary range for foreign service officers ranges from $48,000 to $60,000 annually. The current salary range for a CIA officer is between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, depending on level of experience and education. Political campaign managers are rewarded for the effort and hours they spend working with a salary of $50,000 to $70,000, depending on experience. Political lobbyists have the highest paying political science jobs, earning between $100,000 and $150,000 annually.
Popular political science major jobs include foreign service officer, CIA officer, political campaign manager, and political lobbyist. Since studies qualify graduates for work in private business or for the government, in a variety of subfields, there are more political science job opportunities than there are jobs in many other fields. This is good news for anyone interested in this career, whether making an initial entry into the workforce or changing direction.
