Where can a social science degree lead?

Interested in studying social science at university? Great choice! Social scientists have skills and knowledge that are in demand across a range of sectors leading to a variety of interesting and rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in establishing yourself in the world of business, want to help others in the wider community or put your research skills to use in shaping public policy, a degree in social science gives you the skills and knowledge to shape your career.

What can I do with a social science degree?

Although studying social science can be directly related to distinct career paths, for example being an accountant, economist or psychologist, the huge range of skills you will develop from studying social science will open doors to a wide variety of careers and opportunities – some of which might not even exist yet!

Interested in shaping public policy in a fast-moving environment? Social science could lead you to a career as a Government Social Researcher.

Want to use your communication and interpersonal skills to run publicity campaigns or build an organisation’s brand? A career in public relations could be for you.

Do you like identifying patterns in information and using numbers to solve problems? Data analysts are highly sought after in all sorts of sectors including finance, consulting, manufacturing, government and education.

From being a forensic anthropologist, political risk analyst or corporate social responsibility manager to transport planner, youth and community care worker, sports statistician or geographic information specialist, studying the social sciences gives you the skills to shape the career you want.

Find out more about where a social science degree could take you by reading our interviews with social scientists.

Meet the Economist

Kiran, a Principal Economist at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), uses her social science skills to carry out economic research and analysis to support the ICO’s work in protecting personal data and information rights.

What skills will I develop?

By studying the social sciences, you will develop a variety of skills which are highly valued by employers across a range of sectors. This will include knowledge specific to the subject you are studying, but also a vast number of transferable skills which you can apply wherever your career takes you.

  • Analytical skills

    Being proficient in analysing different sources of information including numerical data, surveys and written sources, and being able to draw your own conclusions from them are useful skills in a range of careers in business and finance, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the charity sector and more.

  • Critical thinking skills

    Studying social science will hone your ability to confidently identify the most reliable sources of information and question when something doesn’t seem quite right.

  • Communication skills

    Learning how to present your findings both verbally and in writing and to communicate your point in a structured way whilst using evidence is useful in all sorts of ways – from presenting at a board meeting or implementing a new company policy to engaging with others in roles including teaching, HR and finance.

  • Interpersonal skills

    A key part of studying the social sciences includes understanding people, including different perspectives of the world. Through this understanding comes a deeper ability to empathise with others, to collaborate effectively and to build strong relationships – all of which are essential to many diverse careers.

  • Numeracy and data skills

    Being able to understand and analyse data is helpful in a range of circumstances and is valued by employers, especially when it comes to supporting your points with evidence.

  • Observational skills

    Observing what is going on in the world around you, both in terms of people and environments, and being able to communicate that effectively to others is a useful skill in many sectors, particularly in healthcare, teaching and other public sector roles.

  • Problem solving

    Studying the social sciences will further develop your problem solving skills, giving you plenty of experience of being able to draw together information, think creatively about a task and approach it from different perspectives. These are useful skills to draw on in many careers from managerial positions in business to working in the civil service.

  • Research skills

    Being able to use different sources of information well, and collect this information using a variety of methods, is a useful skill in many professions, especially for analysts and researchers.

  • Teamwork skills

    Studying the social sciences will provide lots of opportunities to develop your teamwork skills including planning, problem solving, communication and negotiating with others. In a variety of sectors and roles, there will be times when you need to collaborate with colleagues to complete tasks and projects, as such being able to work well with those around you is highly valued by employers.

That’s not all. You will also develop your data collection, analysis and interpretation, qualitative and quantitative research, and project management skills, amongst others, all of which are also valued by employers.

Meet the Policy Advisor

With his background in anthropology, Alex uses his social science skills to work between local and national government to inform central UK Government economic growth policy through local intelligence, relationships and insight.

How much can I earn after graduation?

A social science degree opens doors to a variety of well-paid careers in different sectors. In fact, economics, law, politics, business studies and geography are among the top ten disciplines for lifetime graduate earnings. Of course, there can be a huge amount of variation in earnings depending on what you study, the sector you go into and your job role and ultimate career, but the figures below should give some insight into what to expect.

Social science graduates earn in line with average expected graduate earnings and, in some cases, significantly more than the median salary of £29,900 five years after graduation. Based on recent government data, graduates who were in full time employment five years after graduation and studied economics were earning on average upwards of £46,700 five years after graduating; those who had studied politics were earning a median salary of £33,200 five years after graduating; and those who had studied geography or business and management were earning a median salary of £31,500 five years after graduation.

Meet the Public Health Practitioner

Maddie, a Senior Partnerships Manager at NHS England, works with colleagues from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to design knowledge exchange seminars, workshops and learning programmes for workforce planners and policy leads, and supports technical assistance programmes focused on strengthening health systems around the world and at home.

Earnings in different careers

Social scientists go on to work in a variety of careers in a whole range of sectors. As your experience, knowledge and skills increase, so too will your salary. See below for a range of different careers that studying a social science degree could lead to and the associated median salaries for each, based on recent data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings for April 2024, Office for National Statistics.

  • Business development manager

    Business development managers use their research and strategic planning skills to identify new opportunities to generate revenue and help a business grow. Business management can be applied to businesses across a range of sectors with salaries varying significantly depending on the sector you work in and your experience.

    The median salary for sales and business development managers in the UK is £55,200 per year*.

  • Community development worker

    Do you want to help improve the lives of those in your local community? Community development workers empower local communities to address inequalities through project initiatives and act as a link between communities and their local authority and voluntary sector providers.

    The median salary for youth and community workers in the UK is £31,656 per year*.

  • Data analyst

    Are you analytical by nature and like crunching numbers? Data analysts are in high demand across a huge number of sectors to help identify the solutions to problems using data. They use their insights and communication skills to translate numerical information into accessible solutions.

    The median salary for data analysts in the UK is £34,892 per year*.

  • HR officer

    Using their business awareness, management and interpersonal skills, HR officers help the business they work for ensure they have the right employees in place, by identifying and hiring individuals with the desired skills and qualifications.

    The median salary for HR and industrial relations officers in the UK is £33,214 per year. As your career progresses and you inherit more responsibilities, your salary could grow to £52,937 per year, which is the median salary for HR managers and directors in the UK*.

  • PR officer

    Public relations (PR) professionals use their communication and interpersonal skills to manage the reputation and image of their clients using publicity campaigns. They use different communications channels to convey key messages for their clients to their target audiences and will often monitor publicity and research new opportunities.

    The median salary for PR professionals in the UK is £36,960 per year, which increases to a median salary of £77,186 per year for PR and communications directors*.

  • Occupational psychologist

    Using their understanding of how people behave, occupational psychologists support with improving the effectiveness of their organisation and improving employee satisfaction. As part of this role, you’ll support the organisation’s approach to change, assess employee needs and identify new strategies to meet them and analyse data to understand their effectiveness.

    The median salary for psychologists in the UK is £33,346 per year*.

  • Social researcher

    Social researchers use their skills to conduct, analyse and manage social research related to societal issues and report on findings to shape or evaluate policy in different areas.

    The median salary for researchers in the UK is £43,610 per year*.

  • Social worker

    Social workers help to improve the lives of individuals and families through finding solutions to their problems. As part of the role, social workers often work across a range of settings to ensure that those they’re working with have the support they need to live independently.

    The median salary for social workers in the UK is £42,668 per year*.

  • Teacher

    Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge with others? Secondary school teachers use their communication, interpersonal and organisational skills to engage pupils in their subject area and support them in preparing for their future. Teachers need to keep up to date with their subject area, research new topic areas and use their creativity to develop new resources and materials.

    The median salary for secondary school teachers in the UK is £45,384 per year, with Headteachers earning a median salary of £71,064 per year*.

These are just a small number of the many careers studying a social science degree can lead to. To gain more insights into what you can do with a degree in social science, explore our interviews with social scientists or browse Prospects’ ‘What can I do with my degree’ resources.

*Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings for April 2024, Office for National Statistics.

I am a social scientist

Meet a range of social scientists working in varied careers across different sectors. Find out how they got to where they are now, what they enjoy most about their role and the skills they use from studying social science in their day-to-day jobs.

Find out more about careers with social science