What Can You Do With a Doctoral Degree?
What opportunities are available for doctoral graduates?
A doctoral degree, is the highest level of college education you can achieve. These intensive programs require students to dive deep into a specific interest, conduct research and deliver a dissertation at the end of their program. Many doctoral graduates pursue careers in academia and research, but there are other opportunities where these professionals can excel as well.
If you’re thinking about getting a doctorate, you may wonder what opportunities there are for graduates of such a high-level degree and if it’s worth the time and money to pursue one.
Here’s a look at the various paths you can pursue with a Ph.D.
Postdoctoral researcher
Before diving into other professions, discussing one of the most popular career paths for a doctoral graduate is essential: postdoctoral researchers. A postdoctoral researcher does what is called a “postdoc” or a “training-focused position available to people who have earned a Ph.D.” (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education). Postdoc careers are a stepping stone between the graduate’s student experience and a full-time professional experience.
Most postdoc researchers pursue roles at research-focused academic institutions. As a result, academic postdocs have more flexibility in pursuing their research interests than when obtaining their Ph.D. In addition, they may be required to secure grant funding for their projects and teach courses alongside working on their research projects.
Postdoc opportunities can be found in a variety of contexts including government or nonprofits.
Professor
Throughout their studies, doctoral candidates develop skills in research, public speaking, and teaching, which are vital aspects of being a professor. In addition, graduates may take on an assistant professor or professor role at colleges or universities, teaching courses within their expertise. While it may be assumed that many doctoral graduates pursue professor roles, this isn’t the case. Only 3% of students with a doctoral degree become full-time professors at an academic institution. While a professorship may still be obtainable if you have a passion for teaching, the job hunt may be a little trickier compared to other folks with doctorates.
Researcher
If you’re looking to conduct research outside of a college campus, several companies hire folks with Ph.D.’s. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, doctoral graduates meet many qualifications to assume roles as lead researchers in for-profit companies. Plus, you can explore different types of research in medicine, information technology, marketing, and more.
Leadership roles in academia
Are you interested in a leadership role in academia? It’s not uncommon for doctoral graduates to assume top roles as school administrators, as they are sought-after candidates for many employers. With this career, you can help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their future careers. While you may not be directly involved with teaching students, you may be responsible for managing budgets, overseeing your institution's daily operations, training faculty, and more.
Some examples of leadership roles in academia include:
Principals
School administrators
Department chairs
Program directors
Deans
To hone in on educational leadership, a Doctorate of Education, a Doctorate of Educational Leadership, or a Doctorate in Educational Administration are a few examples of Ph.D.’s you can pursue.
Consultant
Consulting firms often recruit doctoral graduates because of their exemplary research, writing, and presenting skills. Consultants provide their expert knowledge to solve an organization’s problems in an efficient and profitable manner. Doctoral graduates have spent three or more years conducting in-depth research on a specific topic. With this in mind, consulting firms may need an expert like a doctoral graduate to assist them with developing effective strategies to help their businesses grow.
There are several types of consultants, like:
Strategy consultants
Marketing consultants
Science consultants
Management consultants
Environmental consultants
Innovation consultants
IT consultants
Entrepreneur
Another potential career path for doctoral graduates is to become an entrepreneur. Whether it’s a side hustle or a full-time effort, there are many ways to make income as a business owner. With a doctorate, you’ll have writing, leadership, problem-solving, and research skills, all essential components of being a successful entrepreneur.
In addition, several schools offer a Doctorate of Entrepreneurship if you want to get a head start on developing your entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.