Having a philosophy degree means that you are endowed with the skills
that employers are looking for in the workplace. You possess critical
thinking abilities, logic, research and an understanding of a variety
of schools of thought. You can continue your education to the masters
and doctoral level to increase your placement in the career world or you
can jump into a career straight out of the university. There are many
career options open to philosophy degree holders so the level and income
in your career depends on what you choose to do with the degree.
Philosophy Teacher (post secondary level)
University level philosophy instructors are in tune with the latest ideas
as well as knowledgeable in the classical information regarding philosophy.
Being able to discuss philosophical issues regularly keeps the flow of
ideas going and can make for engaging conversations. Teachers often seek
to open the minds of their students to new ideas. Philosophy degree holders
who choose to teach philosophy are granted this benefit yearly with new
sets of students who are eager to open their minds and learn about human
philosophical history and speculate on the future. University philosophy
teachers earn about $43,000-$50,000 per year.
Attorney
Attorneys benefit from the critical thinking and research skills achieved
by earning a philosophy degree. Being able to think outside of normal
parameters, analyze information and think on your feet is an important
aspect of law. Having a background in philosophy gives these benefits
and the ability to envision multiple possibilities and analyze them fully
within the context of a given case. Attorneys earn about $80,000 per year
on average.
Paralegal
Paralegals research, collect and analyze legal materials for a variety
of sectors. The type of work depends on the agency but it generally entails
maintaining files, preparing materials for review, filing forms and preparing
documents. Paralegals work in a variety of companies including government
agencies, law firms, non-profit organizations, etc. handling the legal
materials therein. The strong research and critical thinking skills from
a philosophy degree are needed in such a position. Paralegals start at
$40,000 per year.
