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First, some facts. Of the Linguistics graduates from Brigham Young University 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 49%, Linguistics graduates from Brigham Young University have a much lower likelihood (-18%) 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.
Also, after graduating, 41% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Linguistics graduate.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 68% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2019 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONLaw Clerk United States Attorneys' Offices May 2021 - Jul 2021 Legal Extern The Honorable M. Hannah Lauck, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Jan 2022 - Apr 2022 Summer Associate  Boies Schiller Flexner LLP May 2022 - Aug 2022 Legal Writing Fellow  University of Virginia School of Law Aug 2022 - May 2023 Appellate Litigation Clinic University of Virginia School of Law Aug 2022 - May 2023 Associate (Not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction) Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Oct 2023 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGDoctor of Law - JDUniversity of Virginia School of Law 2020 - 2023 ABOUTJ.D. (2023) from the University of Virginia School of Law. (Not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction.) B.A. (2019, summa cum laude) in Linguistics from Brigham Young University in April 2019. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
So, looking at the various jobs that people who studied Linguistics at Brigham Young University have landed, it seems like there's a pretty mixed bag of career paths. While some of the roles do connect back to the field of linguistics, many others are in areas like sales, customer service, and software engineering where linguistic skills aren’t the main focus. For instance, roles like Sales Manager and Administrative Assistant certainly require good communication skills, but that's kind of where the connection ends—these jobs don't really tap into deeper linguistic concepts.
However, there are some standout examples of positions that do make good use of linguistic knowledge. For instance, jobs like Language Processing Engineer and Technical Historical Records Linguist explicitly require those specialized skills. Also, a few legal roles seem to leverage linguistic skills for understanding and interpreting complex legal language. So, overall, while you can see some alignment with linguistics in a handful of positions, many grads seem to be finding themselves in jobs where their linguistic background isn’t the primary takeaway. It just goes to show how versatile a degree in Linguistics can be, even if it doesn't directly translate to a linguistics-centric career!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Linguistics graduates (this is across all Linguistics graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Brigham Young University):
When looking at the career trajectories of graduates in Linguistics from Brigham Young University, it seems like the initial job market can be a bit of a mixed bag. Many graduates start in roles that aren’t directly aligned with Linguistics, like sales or administrative positions. For instance, some have taken on jobs as Internet Sales Managers or Administrative Assistants shortly after graduating, which might not be what they envisioned when they chose their major. However, as we look further into their careers, about five to ten years later, there's evidence of greater specialization and advancement. Some graduates have moved into more linguistically relevant roles, especially in fields like software engineering or legal services, where their background could be utilized in specific areas such as language processing or legal advocacy.
On a broader scale, while not everyone has gone directly into a Linguistics-focused career, it seems that graduates do find their footing in various industries and often build on their skills in ways that eventually align with their degree. For example, there are several who transitioned into tech roles—like software engineering—where their analytical skills from Linguistics come in handy. Others have found success in the legal field, showing that the skills gained from a Linguistics degree can certainly be transferable. Overall, although there are many different paths taken, it appears that Linguistics graduates from BYU are managing to carve out careers that reflect their educational background, even if the journey doesn't start off in what one would typically consider a "linguistic" career.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. If you enjoy diving into language structure, syntax, phonetics, and different cultures, you might find it fascinating and somewhat easier. However, if you’re not into the nitty-gritty of how language works or the theoretical side, it could feel a bit tougher. At BYU, you’ll have a supportive environment and great resources, but expect to engage in some rigorous coursework and maybe even get your hands dirty with some research projects. Overall, I'd say it’s around average in difficulty—definitely demanding, but totally doable if you're passionate about the subject!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 6 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Linguistics.
So, looking at these BYU grads and their job paths, it seems like some of them have found pretty decent gigs in terms of salary, especially those in tech and law. For example, the grad who made it to Goldman Sachs as an Analyst and then Associate probably pulled in a solid income, and the ones moving up in the software world are likely raking in good pay too—like the software engineer who went from Backend to Senior in just a year. However, others, particularly those in education and administrative roles, may not be hitting the big bucks, which is pretty common in those fields. Overall, it looks like there's a mixed bag of pay grades, but a lot of potential for some of them to really cash in as they grow in their careers!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Linguistics (this is across all Linguistics graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Brigham Young University). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Linguistics (ordered by the average relevance score of their Linguistics graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 Brigham Young University
|
49 | 12 |
 University of Florida
|
44 | 14 |