What can you do with a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of California, Berkeley we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 56 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Economics graduates from University of California, Berkeley have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 17% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Economics graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What do Economics graduates from University of California, Berkeley do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley?
• What are the best colleges for Economics?

View a random Economics graduate from University of California, Berkeley and our analysis:

Relevance score: 87% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2014 from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Fixed Income Sales Citi Feb 2015 - Jun 2017 The role in Fixed Income Sales may utilize some quantitative and analytical skills related to economics, but it does not primarily require the specific core qualifications of an Economics degree. Assistant Vice President The TCW Group Jul 2017 - Feb 2019 As an Assistant Vice President at The TCW Group, the position directly involves financial analysis and investment strategies that are deeply rooted in economic principles learned during the B.A. in Economics. Vice President The TCW Group Mar 2019 - Present The Vice President role at The TCW Group requires advanced economic knowledge and analytical skills essential for making investment decisions, aligning strongly with the core qualifications obtained from the Economics degree. ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Analyst
• Partner
• Associate
• Wealth Management Intern
• Associate Government Program Analyst
• External Audit - Experienced Associate
• Senior Associate
• President
• Product Manager
• Financial Analyst

When looking at the career paths of graduates from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Economics, it's clear they venture into a mix of roles, some that play to their educational strengths, and others that seem more loosely connected. A significant number of these individuals have found themselves in positions within tech companies, financial firms, and government or policy-related jobs. Examples range from roles such as Program Manager at tech giants like Google and Meta to Analyst positions at financial institutions. Notably, many of these roles involve elements like project management, general analytics, or marketing strategy, which require some skills honed during their economics studies but may not demand an in-depth application of economic theory or analysis on a daily basis.

In terms of relevance, many graduates gravitated towards positions that do align with their economics background, especially in finance and data analysis roles. For instance, positions like Financial Analyst, User Acquisition Analyst, and roles in consultancies like McKinsey or Vanguard show a direct utilization of economic principles, quantitative analysis, and financial modeling. However, contrastingly, other common roles, especially in management or marketing, such as Product Manager or Sales Director, while they might benefit from economic insights, often do not strictly require a foundation in economics as a core aspect of the job. Overall, graduates have a mix of positions ranging from highly relevant, such as research and financial roles, to those less so, such as marketing and project management positions, indicating their versatility but also the varying degrees of connection to their academic training.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Economics graduates (this is across all Economics graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley):

What kind of career trajectories do Economics graduates from University of California, Berkeley have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, let's dive into the career paths of Economics graduates from UC Berkeley. Overall, it seems like a decent chunk of these graduates are landing pretty good first jobs right after leaving college. Many of them are stepping into roles that align well with their degree—think jobs like financial analysts, program managers, and marketing managers. This shows that employers recognize the value of a Berkeley Economics degree, as it tends to open doors in industries like finance, tech, and consulting right off the bat.

Now, if we look at where some of these graduates are five or ten years down the line, the trends get even more interesting. A lot of them seem to advance into higher positions, such as senior managers and directors, particularly in tech-heavy companies like Google and Meta. The finance world also shows a solid trajectory with several graduates moving up the ranks in investment banking and wealth management. Even those who started in less traditional roles still appear to be making meaningful career strides. For instance, some have transitioned into management or specialized positions that leverage their analytical skills from their Economics background.

However, it's worth noting that not everyone has taken a straight line from graduation to a high-powered career. Some have ended up in roles that might be considered a bit off the beaten path or less related to Economics, especially as you look at more recent graduates. For example, some are working in positions that might seem disconnected from their studies, such as sales associates or even roles within local government. This might indicate that while many graduates find ways to translate their education into lucrative roles, there are also those who take longer to figure it out or who explore diverse career interests.

In conclusion, UC Berkeley Economics graduates generally show promising career trajectories, with many landing solid initial jobs related to their field and climbing the career ladder in the long term. Still, some are exploring different paths along the way. Whether they're in finance, tech, consulting, or something unexpected, it seems like a degree from UC Berkeley sets them up for some intriguing opportunities—just as long as they're willing to navigate the ups and downs that come with any career path.

How hard is a Economics degree from University of California, Berkeley?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at UC Berkeley is no walk in the park—it's definitely on the challenging side of the spectrum. The coursework dives deep into concepts like micro and macroeconomics, statistics, and econometrics, all of which can be pretty intense, especially if math isn’t your thing. You’ll need to be ready for a fair amount of reading, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. Plus, being at a top-notch school like Berkeley means you're surrounded by some seriously smart students, which can make it feel competitive at times. Overall, it’s a tough degree, but if you’re passionate about the subject and willing to put in the effort, it can also be really rewarding!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Economics.

Do Economics graduates from University of California, Berkeley tend to make good money?

Looking at the job history of these Economics graduates from UC Berkeley, it really seems like most of them are on a solid financial track. Graduates who landed roles at big tech companies like Google and Meta typically earn impressive salaries, and they often have generous stock options and benefits. For instance, starting as a Program Manager at Google and working up to a Senior Program Manager role indicates not just good pay but also strong career growth. Similarly, those venturing into finance, especially in positions like Financial Analyst or Associate at firms like PwC or banks, also suggest they're likely making a pretty decent living considering the industry standards.

However, not all paths seem equally lucrative. Some graduates have taken roles in areas like government or academia, which can be less financially rewarding compared to corporate jobs. Positions at nonprofits or as research associates might not bring in the same kind of salary. Although these roles are important and fulfilling, they may not be as financially advantageous as those in tech or finance. Overall, it looks like many of these UC Berkeley grads are doing well for themselves, but there’s definitely a range in terms of earning potential based on the industry they chose to pursue.

What buzzwords do Economics graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Economics (this is across all Economics graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Berkeley). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Economics?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Economics (ordered by the average relevance score of their Economics graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of Chicago	83	22
Northwestern University	80	26
Middlebury College	79	13
Davidson College	79	11
Miami University	78	10
Columbia University in the City of New York	78	10
University of Notre Dame	75	11
University of Maryland College Park	74	32
Villanova University	74	14
Dartmouth College	74	16
Indiana University Bloomington	73	15
University of Michigan	73	51
University of California, Berkeley	73	56
The University of Texas at Dallas	73	12
Boston College	73	33
Harvard University	73	20
The Ohio State University	72	26
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	72	26
Binghamton University	72	18
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick	71	11
Hillsdale College	71	13
Penn State University	70	51
Clemson University	70	17
University of Utah	70	19
University of Minnesota	70	13
Duke University	70	13
The University of Texas at Austin	69	44
Michigan State University	69	33
The University of Georgia	69	12
University of Pennsylvania	69	18
Yale University	69	15
Florida International University	68	18
Hamilton College	68	14
University of North Texas	67	14
Brigham Young University	67	26
University of California, Los Angeles	67	44
Colorado State University	67	15
Boston University	67	13
University of Massachusetts, Amherst	67	10
Vanderbilt University	67	19
Arizona State University	66	30
UC Santa Barbara	66	19
William & Mary	66	11
University of Massachusetts Boston	66	10
College of the Holy Cross	66	17
University of South Florida	65	15
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	65	24
James Madison University	65	11
University of Colorado Boulder	65	26
University of Southern California	65	24
University of Maryland	65	23
Syracuse University	65	11
University of California, San Diego	65	15
Fordham University	65	15
Stanford University	65	12
University of Wisconsin-Madison	64	48
University of Houston	64	19
San Diego State University-California State University	64	13
University of Florida	63	35
New York University	63	37
University of Virginia	63	30
University of Connecticut	63	23
University of California San Diego	63	11
Texas A&M University	62	46
University of Pittsburgh	62	20
Northeastern University	61	16
Cornell University	61	18
University of Miami	61	14
University at Albany, SUNY	61	18
University of California, Davis	60	33
University of California, Santa Cruz	60	11
University at Buffalo	60	16
Virginia Commonwealth University	59	11
Texas Christian University	59	16
Tufts University	59	10
Spelman College	59	12
Occidental College	59	11
Florida State University	58	37
University of Oregon	58	24
UC Irvine	58	13
Stony Brook University	58	10
The George Washington University	58	14
Emory University	58	11
University of Iowa	57	13
Santa Clara University	57	11
University of Washington	56	29
Rutgers University	56	15
Loyola Marymount University	56	11
University of Central Florida	55	12
University of Arizona	55	16
University of Hawaii at Manoa	55	12
Southern Methodist University	55	13
Georgia State University	54	17
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	54	16
Denison University	54	13
California State University-Sacramento	53	19
George Mason University	53	22
University of Delaware	53	11
San Diego State University	51	17
Northern Illinois University	51	12
University of California, Irvine	51	10
University of Georgia - Terry College of Business	51	10
Queens College	50	16
The University of Texas at Arlington	48	12
University of California, Riverside	48	14
North Carolina State University	46	10
San Jose State University	45	16
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	44	10
Baruch College	44	11
Wake Forest University	44	11
University of South Carolina	38	10
Temple University	35	11
United States Military Academy at West Point	23	15