2.9 Careers

Marriage and Family Therapists

Marriage and family therapists work with individuals and their families to address problems in their family life (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024b). They work in private practice and in healthcare settings like hospitals. A master’s degree in psychology, social work, or mental health counseling is needed to become a marriage and family therapist. A sociology degree prepares undergraduates well for a master’s degree in one of these fields. Many sociology programs offer coursework on topics relevant to the field, though minoring in psychology or social work is also helpful preparation for master’s level work. The median pay for marriage and family therapists is $59,000 annually or $28 per hour. The occupation is expected to grow faster than average (16 %) through 2034. Video 2.1 shares more about this occupation.

Social and Community Service Managers

Social and community service managers provide services to the public, often focusing on groups facing significant challenges like homelessness or substance abuse or on a particular demographic such as children or veterans (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024c). They work in individual and family services, nursing and residential care facilities, governments, and community and vocational rehabilitation services. The jobs usually require a bachelor’s degree, though there may be more opportunities with a master’s degree. Sociology is a good degree for this career because the coursework often focuses on social problems that these employers address. The median pay is $77,000 per year or $37 per hour. The occupation is expected to grow faster than average (8%) through 2034. Video 2.2 shares more about this occupation.

Survey Researchers

Survey researchers design surveys and analyze quantitative data (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024d). They work in scientific research, government research organizations, polling organizations, and more. Survey researchers work with teams but often also work alone. A bachelor’s degree can lead to entry-level positions, but a master’s or Ph.D. is more typical. A sociology degree prepares students for this field because it usually requires research methods and statistical courses and focuses on explaining how people behave and think. The median pay for survey researchers is $61,000 per year or $29 per hour. The occupation is expected to experience little growth through 2034. Video 2.3 shares more about this occupation.