Career Options with a Bachelor of Labor and Employment Relations Degree
Career Options with a Master of Labor and Employment Relations Degree
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.
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.
Careers Related to the Labor Unions and Social Movements Concentration/Minor
- Union organizer or staff representative
- Labor relations specialist
- Researcher
- Labor relations agency staff
Learn more about the concentration and careers (PDF).
Careers Related to the Diversity in the Workplace Concentration/Minor
- Diversity specialist
- Public policy advocate
- Public agency staff
- Attorney
Learn more about the concentration and careers (PDF).
Careers Related to the Law and the Workplace Concentration/Minor
- Attorney
- Mediator or arbitrator
- Professional staff representative in a union
- Public policy advocate
Learn more about the concentration and careers (PDF).
Careers Related to the 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
Learn more about the concentration and careers (PDF).
Careers Related to the Work Organization and Management Concentration/Minor
- Manager
- Human resource specialist
- Consultant
- Community, nonprofit, or union leader/manager
Learn more about the concentration and careers (PDF).
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.
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.