Career Options with a Bachelor of Labor and Employment Relations Degree

A degree or minor in Labor and Employment Relations can be your springboard to a wide range of career paths and opportunities. Each degree or concentration provides students with a unique set of skills and perspectives that are sought after in a variety of fields. Your personal career goals can help you choose which path to take. 

A Labor and Employment Relations Bachelor’s degree or minor opens up a variety of career paths, enabling you to:

  • manage people well whether you work for a corporation, government, or a community organization;
  • apply knowledge of current issues like work-life balance or employee rights to your workplace;
  • specialize in diversity, dealing with unionized employees, or other parts of employment relations;
  • represent employees as a union leader or staff member;
  • pursue an MBA after graduation—or a law degree, or a professional master’s degree in human resources or labor relations.

Career Options with a Minor or Concentration in Labor and Employment Relations

Specific concentrations or minors each open up different career opportunities as well. The following  lists illustrate examples of positions that are associated with different concentrations or minors. The Labor and Employment Relations Concentrations/Minors page can give you more detailed information on career paths associated with individual concentrations or minors.

As part of your undergraduate career research, we also encourage you to take the Senior Seminar. It is great way to explore opportunities in the career or careers that you are considering—and the further education that might help you in your quest.

 Diversity in the Workplace Concentration/Minor
  • Diversity specialist
  • Public policy advocate
  • Public agency staff
  • Attorney
     
Labor Unions and Social Movements Concentration/Minor
  • Union organizer or staff representative
  • Labor relations specialist
  • Researcher
  • Labor relations agency staff ​
Work Organization and Management Concentration/Minor
  • Manager
  • Human resource specialist
  • Consultant
  • Community, nonprofit, or union leader/manager
Law and the Workplace Concentration/Minor
  • Attorney
  • Mediator or arbitrator
  • Professional staff representative in a union
  • Public policy advocate
Work, Globalization, and Migration Concentration/Minor
  • Immigration attorney or advocate
  • Labor standards certification specialist
  • International labor organization, NGO, or government agency staff
  • Globally-placed manager in an international corporation

Career Options with a Master of Labor and Employment Relations Degree

The Master of Labor and Employment Relations (MLER) degree program prepares students for professional employment relations careers in a variety of settings, including unions, corporations, government, and community organizations. Required classes and electives provide a broad-based multidisciplinary education in labor relations, organizational/social change, employee diversity, workplace justice, human resource systems, and the impact of the globalization on employees.

Many students attend part time in the evening and combine their studies with work that also helps advance their careers. The goal of the program is to produce graduates who are thoughtful professionals, informed leaders, and/or researchers grounded in the contemporary reality of work and employment relations.

Graduates of the master's program in labor and employment relations follow a variety of career paths.

Salaries of MLER Students upon Graduation

Position Type of Employer Salary
Financial Editor * Law Firm $100,000
Director of Research * Union $91,000
HR Director Hospital $90,000
Assistant Director of Regional Programs * Union $85,000
Associate Director and  Acting Director * University $85,000
President Local Union $75,000
Assistant to the VP of HR and Labor Relations University $72,000
Director of University Outreach University $69,000
Staff Political Department Union  $68,000
Continuing Legal Education Coordinator Law Firm $68,000
Organizer Union $64,000
Program Manager University  $60,000
Staff Agent, Unfair Practices and Representation * Government $60,000
Staff Representative Local Union $57,000
HR Talent Acquisition and Labor Relations Corporation $55,000
Field Examiner Government $52,000
HR Specialist, Employee Relations, Labor  Hospital $50,280
Labor Relations Analyst Government $50,000
Jr. Policy Analyst Government  $45,986
Analyst Labor Relations Department Employer Organization $45,516
Executive Director Community Organization $36,000
Labor Arbitrator–Court Order Mediation Self Employed Part-time $20,000
*These individuals also had significant experience before earning the MLER degree

Employers include:

  • RWDSU/UFCW
  • Sidoti & Co., LLC
  • North West Hospital
  • SEIU Local 1199
  • Rutgers Graduate Admissions
  • URA/AFT Local 1766
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • DEVRY University
  • Workers United International Union
  • Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Freedman
  • NY & NJ Regional Joint Board
  • Cornell Industrial & Labor Relations Program
  • PERC
  • CWA Local 1037
  • Walgreens Corporation
  • National Labor Relations Board
  • Veterans Affairs Hospital
  • Ontario Government Ministry of Disability Support
  • NJ School Boards Association
  • New Labor
  • Self Employed