10 places a business degree can take you

From sport to fashion, finance to non-profits – every industry needs smart, driven people who understand how business works.

Here are just a few of the directions you could take.
 

Every business needs good financial management – so if you’re a numbers person, specialising in accounting or finance can put you in high demand.

Accountants earn an average of $88,000 in Australia, with strong job growth of 9.2% expected over the next five years.

With a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting or a Bachelor of Accounting, you can pursue a career as:

• an accredited accountant
• a business analyst
• an auditor
• a financial advisor.

Or if you’re unsure about committing to an accounting career, you can first study either the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping or the Diploma of Accounting before moving into a bachelor’s degree.

If you choose to focus on banking and finance, you can explore a range of career paths across areas including:

• financial planning
• banking
• stockbroking
• risk management
• superannuation
• insurance
• funds management.

Leadership and innovation are what make a business thrive – and that's where management comes in. As a manager, you'll provide structure and strategy, make smart decisions and guide teams towards shared goals.

If you're an ideas person who's good with people and has the drive to get things done, management could be the path for you. It can lead to roles like:

• operations manager
• project manager
• team leader
• business consultant
• strategy and planning manager.

Project manager salaries average $150,000 in Australia, with 9.3% job growth predicted over the next five years.

There’s other routes into business management too. Check out the Certificate IV in Business and the Diploma of Business – both can help you take your first steps toward a career in business, or hone the skills you already have.

If your dream is to launch your own company, studying business can give you the foundational skills and knowledge to turn that idea into a reality.

There's a lot to think about when you're starting a business – from writing your business plan and managing your finances, to building your brand and scaling up. 

A focus on management, innovation and entrepreneurship gives you the tools to dive in with confidence – which is where a Bachelor of Business or Master of Business Analytics can come in handy.

Marketing is a great way to combine creativity with business thinking. There are lots of diverse roles across marketing, advertising and communications – drawing on your knowledge of finance, management and business decision-making, as well as your creative instincts.

This could be a rewarding career path for you if you get excited by creative ideas, love digital media, and are curious about consumer behaviour and what makes people tick. Some roles you could explore after completing a marketing degree include:

• market analyst
• social media marketing officer
• marketing communications officer
• brand strategist
• brand manager.

A market analyst typically earns $95,000 annually in Australia, with an extremely strong 22.5% projected job growth over the next five years.

People are the most important resource a business has – so human resources play a critical role in any company’s success. If you’re passionate about supporting people and good at solving problems, this could be a fulfilling career path for you.  

Your business studies can prepare you for the different elements of creating a positive and well-functioning workplace, such as:

• managing people and relationships
• working with HR systems and analytics
• creating policies and procedures
• managing organisational change
• promoting diversity and wellbeing.

Roles in this field can vary broadly, including careers in talent acquisition, HR coordination, payroll and more.

An entry-level human resources coordinator earns an average of $83,000 a year, while more senior roles like a people and culture manager can earn upwards of $150,000.

Looking for a career with opportunities to travel, socialise, spend time outside, or give people memorable experiences? Studying business can lead to lots of career opportunities in tourism and hospitality – a busy, rewarding industry with plenty of variety.

In your studies, you might explore:

• developing and managing tourism products
• managing hotels and resorts
• planning impactful events
• managing budgets and making financial decisions
• trends in contemporary tourism and hospitality.

And with the right experience, you can pursue careers as a:

• hospitality manager ($80,000 to $90,000)

• travel consultant ($70,000 to $80,000)

• travel manager ($85,000 to $95,000).

Want to build your skills in cookery or hospitality management before launching your career? Head to the TAFE certificates and diplomas section on our course page for more information.

Event management can be an exciting and (sometimes) glamorous career – perfect if you love being around people, enjoy working at a fast pace, have an eye for detail and are excellent at organising complex projects.

By specialising in events, you'll build essential skills in event planning, promotion and operation – from corporate conferences to live performances and everything in between. 

You’ll also get a solid grounding in current trends across tourism, hospitality and events, so you’ll be ready to let your creative ideas flow and start designing events that make a splash. Don’t forget about the Diploma of Event Management as an option – the perfect way to build core skills for your future career.

An entry-level events coordinator averages $70,000 to $85,000 a year, while an events manager typically earns around $85,000 to $105,000 in Australia.

Information systems management and business analytics are fast-growing areas of business with lots of opportunity – perfect if you love data, analysis and technology.

A business course specialising in these areas can give you in-demand skills across:

• data management and visualisation
• project management
• business analytics
• programming and modelling
• digital commerce
• machine learning
• artificial intelligence.

A business analyst typically earns around $105,000 to $125,000 a year in Australia, while a project manager averages around $140,000 to $150,000 annually.

Prefer to study a shorter course first? Try the Certificate IV in Information Technology, or the Certificate IV in Cyber Security.

If you’re someone who likes to understand how things work and make sure they run smoothly, supply chain management (also called logistics) could be a great area of business to explore.

It covers the production, shipment and distribution of products: essentially, how goods get from A to B (and everywhere in between).

In your studies you’ll learn about things like:

• purchasing and procuring materials
• inventory flow and control
• economics of transport
• supply chain analytics.

The average salary of a logistics manager ranges from $110,000 to $130,000, while a supply chain manager’s salary ranges from $125,000 to $145,000 a year.

Want a business career with a global perspective? Studying business and majoring in international trade could be your pathway – developing strategies and building relationships with companies across the world.

When you study international trade, you’ll gain knowledge in:

• international economics and finance
• market analysis and competition
• international trade practices and policies
• strategic trade operations.

This can prepare you for in-demand roles in areas such as:

• global business management
• global marketing
• supply chain management
• trade finance. 

A specialisation in international trade can lead to roles like export coordinator and trading analyst, with salaries ranging from $80,000 to over $100,000.