A business degree provides you with the analytical, financial and interpersonal skills you need to make valuable contributions to any organization. There are different types of in-demand business degrees, and some better prepare you for jobs in a particular focus area or sector. For example, you can specialize in accounting, marketing or operations to position you for careers in those areas.
Best of all, business graduates are sought-after job candidates. Of the top 10 majors in demand by employers, half included business majors such as accounting, business administration, finance, logistics/supply chain and management information systems, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE PDF source).
What are the Different Types of Bachelor’s Degrees in Business?
You can choose from a number of business bachelor’s degrees to achieve your personal and career goals.
If you’re looking for a management job that requires a broad business background, a business administration degree can help position you for that role. Business administration is a popular bachelor’s degree can prepare you to manage a department within a business or an organization.
It also allows you to specialize in other areas of business. For example, you can earn your bachelor’s degree in business administration and choose to add a concentration.
Some bachelor’s in business administration tracks you can choose from include:
If you already know what area of business interests you most, you might choose to major in that discipline. For example, if you want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you may opt for a bachelor’s degree in accounting rather than a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting concentration.
Here are some other popular business bachelor’s degrees that lead to rewarding careers:
Which Business Degree Has the Most Job Opportunities?
No matter what business degree you choose, you’ll be well-positioned for a job. The National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2022 report shows that recruiters plan to hire 26.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} more graduates from the class of May 2022 than they did the previous year.
Below is a diverse list of bachelor’s degree business jobs by area of specialization.
Accounting
Accounting encompasses more than recording numbers and managing balance sheets. It requires accurately reporting on an organization’s financial activities and making sense of those numbers.
Here are some jobs you can get with a degree in accounting or a business administration degree with a concentration in accounting:
- Accountant – If you love math and have a knack for crunching numbers, you can find an accounting job across all job sectors. Accountants look at a company’s financial statements, review accounting systems, ensure regulatory compliance and analyze ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. To become a licensed CPA, you must pass a CPA examination, and you may also need extra college credits before you can take the test. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants earned a median salary of $77,250 in 2021, and the field is expected to grow by 7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030.
- Budget analyst – Do you like helping businesses plan for the future? A budget analyst works with various organizations – including government agencies, private companies and universities – to create budget reports and plans for their finances. A budget analyst earned a median salary of $79,950 in 2021, with a 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} job growth expected through 2030, according to BLS.
Discover what else, besides accounting, you can do with an accounting degree.
Finance
Finance professionals interpret data with an eye toward planning for an organization’s financial future. They analyze budgets and investments to help organizations protect their assets and grow. If you want to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, you might consider getting your bachelor’s degree in finance. At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), for example, the finance degree includes a financial planning concentration that prepares you for the CFP® exam.
Here are some jobs you can get with a degree in finance or a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance:
- Financial analyst – Financial analysts take a deep dive into an organization’s numbers and use data to make key decisions that impact future spending and investments. As global opportunities increase, financial analysts will also look at international investment opportunities. Employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030, and, in 2021, they earned a median salary of $81,410, according to BLS. Learn how to become a financial analyst.
- Financial manager – Beyond balancing the books, financial managers look at the present financial health of an organization and help guide its future. They create financial reports, recommend investments and adjust financial activities to meet long-term business goals. BLS reports that financial managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and five years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant, securities sales agent or financial analyst. The median annual salary for financial managers was $131,710 in 2021, according to BLS. Employment of financial managers is projected to grow 17{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Personal financial advisor – Personal financial advisors help individuals manage their money and plan for retirement. Most personal financial advisors work in the finance and insurance industry or are self-employed. The median annual salary for personal financial advisors was $94,170 in May 2021, BLS reports. Employment of personal financial advisors is projected to grow 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030. Discover how you can become a financial advisor.
Human Resources
People are the lifeblood of any organization. By maximizing your organization’s human capital, you can help increase productivity and revenue for your business. At the same time, you can shape corporate culture and help employees grow their careers.
Here are some HR jobs you can get with a degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management:
- Human resources specialist – As a human resources specialist, your job is to shape your organization’s future by recruiting and retaining workers. Human resources specialists may also develop and communicate company policies, mediate interpersonal conflicts and manage employee benefits. According to BLS, human resources specialists earned a median salary of $62,290 in 2021. Jobs for human resources specialists are projected to grow 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030.
- Training and development managers – Do you like to help people learn the skills they need to better meet your organization’s needs? Training and development managers create, manage or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization. According to BLS, they earned a median annual salary of $120,130 in 2021. The role is expected to grow 11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030, faster than average for all occupations.
Marketing
A blend of business, art and science, marketing requires professionals who can build brands, plan marketing campaigns and analyze campaign results. Marketing also manages the positioning, pricing and promotion of products and services.
Here are some jobs you can get with a degree in marketing or a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing:
- Marketing manager – Marketing managers help promote an organization’s products and services through print and digital campaigns and are often responsible for website development, social media and email marketing strategies and analyzing marketing analytics. They also work closely with sales and product managers to determine market segmentation and pricing. According to BLS, marketing managers earned a median salary of $135,030 in 2021, and the field is expected to grow by 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030.
- Market research analyst – Market research analysts study and evaluate market conditions to forecast how products or services will perform. They collect demographic, competitor and market data to better position their organizations for success. According to BLS, market research analysts earned a median salary of $63,920 in 2021, and jobs are projected to grow 22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030 – much faster than the national average for all occupations.
Learn how to position yourself for entry-level marketing jobs.
Management
Business managers and administrators are responsible for a business’s day-to-day operations, including its logistics, personnel and profitability. Some qualities of a good leader in management include excellent analytical, interpersonal and decision-making skills.
Here are some jobs you can get with a degree in business administration:
- Administrative services manager – Also known as office managers, administrative services managers oversee both staff and business operations. This could include oversight of a department or an organization as a whole. They also help leadership organize and carry out projects. According to BLS, administrative services managers earned a median salary of $99,290 in 2021. Jobs for administrative services managers are projected to grow 9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030.
- Medical/health services manager – The health care industry needs managers who can help clinical services and administrative departments run smoothly. With a concentration in health care administration, you may be well-positioned to oversee a physician practice, hospital department or other health-related facilities. According to the BLS, medical and health services managers earned a median salary of $101,340 in 2021. The job is projected to grow 32{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030 – much faster than the national average for all occupations
Management Information Systems
Technology forms the backbone of most organizations. Management information systems professionals analyze the needs of a company, its employees and its customers in relation to information management, data processing and applications for end-users.
With a degree in information systems or a business administration degree with a concentration in management information systems, you could be well-equipped to serve as an:
- Information Systems Manager – Business jobs focusing on technology continue to grow. Computer and information systems managers make decisions on technology training, purchasing and coordinating information systems. According to BLS, employment of computer and information systems managers is projected to grow 11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
- Management analyst – Management analysts or consultants work as problem solvers. They take a broad view of an organization and use data to look for ways to reduce costs and increase profitability. They make recommendations related to investments, organizational efficiency or staffing based on staff input and the data they collect. According to BLS, management analysts earned a median salary of $93,000 in 2021. Jobs in this field are projected to grow 14{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030, faster than average for all occupations.
Operations
From supply chain to inventory management, businesses need solid operations professionals to get products and services to their customers.
Here are some jobs you can get with a degree in operations management or a business administration degree with a concentration in project management:
- Logistician – Logisticians look at how all pieces of an organization’s supply chain work together and analyze processes to achieve maximum efficiency. They typically work in manufacturing, government, professional services and wholesale sectors. Logisticians typically have a bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management, business or a related field. The median annual salary for logisticians was $77,030 in 2021. Employment of logisticians is projected to grow 30{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} through 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Project management specialist – If you have a knack for detail and strong organizational skills, you may have what it takes to become a project manager. Professionals in this role analyze and create production schedules, timelines, purchasing, staffing and the budget of a product or service on a per-project basis. Project management specialists earned a median annual salary of $94,500, according to BLS.
Do Business Degrees Pay Well?
According to BLS, the median annual salary for business and financial occupations was $76,570 in 2021, which was considerably higher than $45,760, the median for all occupations. For each of these jobs, a bachelor’s degree is preferred, BLS reports.
Depending on your role, you could earn much more than the median salary. For example, information systems managers who held business jobs focused on planning and directing technology activities for an organization earned a median of $159,010 in 2021, according to BLS. What you ultimately earn will depend on your level of experience, specialization and the sector in which you choose to work.
No matter what type of business degree you choose, getting a bachelor’s degree can boost your earning power. In 2021, those with a bachelor’s degree earned a median weekly salary of $1,334, whereas individuals with a high school diploma only earned $890 per week, according to BLS. So, having a bachelor’s degree can make a major impact on your earnings over the span of your lifetime.
No matter what business job you decide to pursue, a bachelor’s degree can pay off personally and financially. By reflecting on your interests, background and career goals, you can determine which business degree—and job—is right for you.
A degree can change your life. Find the SNHU business program that can best help you meet your goals.
Krysten Godfrey Maddocks ’11 is a writer and marketing/communication professional. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
