Earning in Philosophy

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 may start at $40,000 per year.