Popular Career Options In Political Science (With Skills And Duties)

A degree in political science can provide candidates with a great opportunity to learn about the different legislations that govern our life and their impact on current events. There are a variety of career options that you can pursue after gaining a degree in political science. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of different job roles can help you select the best one according to your interests. In this article, we discuss some of the best career options in political science along with their national average salaries, and find out what skills you'll need to excel in these careers.

What Does Political Science Mean?

Political science is the study of government, its policies, and the political behavior of different organizations. A degree in political science is a gateway for you to lead a powerful career in state and local government or the organizations related to them. Candidates with a degree and great knowledge of political science can pursue a career in many fields such as law, journalism, marketing research, teaching, and civil services.

7 Career Options In Political Science

Here are the types of career options in political science that you can pursue:

1. Lawyer

National average salary: ₹20,036 per month

Primary duties: A lawyer is a professional with a license for advising and representing others in legal matters. Their job is to uphold the law while protecting their client's rights. Earning a law degree allows candidates to have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the policy and role of the government. This is why many political science officials pursue a law degree that allows them to use their knowledge to represent governmental organizations.

The day-to-day work of lawyers depending on their specialized fields of work include licensing, certifications, registrations, and making agreements. Candidates with a law degree can work as corporate lawyers, legal counsel, head legal, company secretaries, and legal executives.

Read more: How Much Does A Corporate Lawyer Make? (With Required Skills)

2. Teacher

National average salary: ₹19,446 per month

Primary duties: Teachers with a degree in political science can teach related courses such as international relations and affairs to students. Depending on their qualifications, teachers get appointed in high schools, senior secondary schools, and universities. To become a political science teacher, candidates may require active listening, speaking skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Their day-to-day job includes preparing classroom and coursework materials, and assignments and maintaining discipline in the classroom. Teachers also prepare and train students about political science and its real-world applications.

3. Journalist

National average salary: ₹22,189 per month

Primary duties: A political journalist gathers information and presents that information in a fair and balanced manner in front of their audience. Their job is to identify and observe current ongoing political events and provide the best possible content based on them. During the hiring process, many organizations consider candidates with at least a bachelor's degree in journalism, communication, English, or any other relevant subjects. The day-to-day job of journalists includes collecting information from different sources, writing articles, interviewing political personalities, and making reports.

Read more: How To Become an Investigative Journalist

4. Economist

National average salary: ₹4,86,956 per year

Primary duties: Economists build models to analyze business and market trends using statistical techniques. They research to identify the performance of specific sectors and then use the information to plan and implement strategies. The day-to-day job of an economist includes creating internal and external documents, research papers, presentations, and creating media outlets.

For becoming successful economists, candidates may require certain skills such as written and verbal communication skills, strong time management, and problem-solving skills. The minimum qualifications for any economist's job may be a bachelor's degree in economics, finance, statistics, or any related subject. Many economists earn a master's degree or Ph.D. in economics, finance, or statistics to gain a higher position.

5. Urban planner

National average salary: ₹39,724 per month

Primary duties: Urban planners develop plans for using land and revitalizing urban zones. They are responsible for assisting local officials in solving economic, environmental, and social issues. Urban planners recommend specific areas and locations for building schools, roads, hospitals, and other structures.

The day-to-day job of an urban planner includes making decisions related to developing resources, creating and managing a team of professionals, writing reports, finalizing plans, and managing customer expectations. The minimum qualification to become an urban planner is a master's degree in urban or regional planning. Candidates with fluency in written and oral communication skills and relevant experience in this field can have better chances of getting hired.

Read more: How To Become a City Planner

6. Survey researcher

National average salary: ₹16,875 per month

Primary duties: The government may conduct surveys from time to time to monitor the information that can help them in improving their governance. Survey researchers plan, conduct and develop surveys for analyzing and interpreting the data from the outcome. The day-to-day job of a survey researcher includes monitoring and evaluating the performance of the surveys and making documentation of the progress.

They also prepare summaries for survey data for the government or the organization. The minimum educational requirement to become a survey researcher is a bachelor's degree. There are several fields in which you can pursue your degrees such as survey research or marketing, social science, and statistics.

Read more: FAQ: What Are the Benefits of Getting a Political Science Degree?

7. Public relations manager

National average salary: ₹28,452 per month

Primary duties: A public relations manager coordinates activities that are related to public relations, sales, and marketing. Their main goal is to build and maintain a positive image for the company or organization they are working for. The day-to-day job of a public relations manager includes establishing good relations with the public, writing press releases, and other media communications. They also train public representatives to build better relations. A very good understanding of consumer marketing can be helpful to be successful in this job.

Strong written and oral communication skills help public relations managers to develop communication plans which include making plans, strategies, budgets, and tactics. The minimum requirement for becoming a public relations manager is a bachelor's or master's degree in marketing, advertising, communication, or in other related fields depending on the organization. Candidates with experience as a company spokesperson or who are comfortable and skilled in both broadcast and print media interviews can have a better chance of getting hired.

Read more: What Does A Public Relations Officer Do? (Duties And Qualifications)

What Skills Do You Need To Develop A Career In Political Science?

Developing a career in political science requires candidates to have in-depth knowledge and certain noteworthy skills. Political science can involve many subject areas within itself, making it more complex than some other subjects. Here are some important skills that can help you develop a career in political science:

Written and oral communication

Political science careers may require maintaining constant communication with different groups of people throughout the day. Having good written and oral communication allows officials to understand and deliver reliable information in a short amount of time. Developing these skills can help you make a positive impact within the office which can directly help in the growth of your career. Writing letters, manuals and reports are some of the daily responsibilities of political science officials so enhancing your written communication skills can also be helpful to you.

Read more: Verbal Communication Examples In The Workplace (With Tips)

Planning and decision-making

Any career in the field of political science may come with a lot of responsibilities. These job roles may require necessary skills that allow officials to work as an authority. Political science officials critically assess the reports and data so that they can make required plans to achieve the goals of the organization. If you can develop your planning and decision-making skills, you can work autonomously and meet tight deadlines.

Analytical skills

Political science careers may have a complex work environment due to the presence of various government-related policies and issues. Professionals in this field can benefit from having well-developed analytical skills. These can allow them to be innovative and solve problems systematically and logically within the policies of the government. Political science professionals can use their analytical skills to summarise and explain various themes, events, and political issues.

Work Ethics

A career in political science can involve many sensitive and important decisions that can affect a large group of people and their quality of life. Having a developed understanding of ethical behavior and a deep sense of empathy may help you in making these decisions. A strong work ethic may include values like dedication, integrity, and reliability.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at the time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organization and a candidate's experience, academic background, and location.