For some linguists, the idea of becoming a translator just doesn’t suit them. But, these linguists still want to use their language skills as part of their job. This begs the question, what are the best jobs for linguists that aren’t a translator?
10 best jobs for linguists
10. Speech therapist
Whilst this one may come as a surprise, speech therapy is one of the best jobs for linguists. Thanks to linguists knowing how to speak several language, they know how to make sounds from the different shapes of their mouth.
This allows them to help deaf people and other people with speech impairments to speak again. Whilst you may occasionally work with adults, children will make up the bulk of your patients.
A speech therapist can make between $60,000 and $90,000 per year depending on their experience!
9. Diplomat
You may not have thought of this one, but a diplomat would need to speak many foreign languages. This is due to the fact that they would be all over the world serving the expats in that country, or protecting the interests of their country abroad.
For most countries’ diplomatic service, speaking at least one foreign language is compulsory, however, some do not.
Your country’s diplomatic service would also teach you many foreign languages so you can communicate with the representatives in the country you are serving in. This would be one of the best jobs for linguists as it would allow them to continue to learn new languages- and get paid for it!
8. English as a foreign language teacher
This is one that I have personally done, having taught English in Spain, in Spanish secondary schools. This would see you moving to another country (one where your main foreign language is spoken) and teach English to the students there.
This is also one of the best jobs for linguists as it allows them to further their knowledge of their main foreign language.
There are many ways that you can become an English as a foreign language teacher, many job sites go through in high levels of detail how you can become one!
7. Lexicographer
This is probably a job that you’ve never heard of, but it is vital to the survival of our language. A lexicographer is someone who is in charge of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries.
Lexicographers work on a per hour or a per project basis, where they negotiate their salary with their company. There are also a very limited amount of employers for Lexicographers, but it is also a very specialised field. This means that there aren’t many Lexicographers in general.
Lexicographers are paid around $35,000 annually for their work.
6. Newspaper editor
Whilst traditional print media may be dying off in record numbers, digital media is taking off. Online newspapers still have editors, which is a job, especially suited to linguists!
It doesn’t necessarily have to be in English, but it is one of the best jobs for linguists as they’ll notice things that others don’t. This is because, as a general rule linguists are very particular, and don’t like it when something is wrong.
This makes them great editors, as they’ll only publish material that is up to their standard.
5. Proofreader
The reason why linguists make such good proofreaders is the same reason why they make such good newspaper editors. Linguists are very particular about what is right and what is wrong.
Proofreading is one of the best jobs for linguists as they are constantly looking at the interpretation of that word to a wider audience. Many organisations are in need of proofreaders, from online media companies, to publishing houses, to translation agencies.
Proofreaders earn between $30,000 and $45,000 per year depending on experience and clientele.
4. Digital copywriter
Digital copywriters are also called digital content writers. From the name, you can probably guess that these people are in charge of creating content meant to be distributed across the web.
The job of a digital copywriter is to engage the reader throughout the article and/or motivate them to do something. This could be as simple as subscribing to a newsletter, or buying a certain good or service.
This can be one of the best jobs for linguists as linguists tend to understand the connotations behind the words that they use.
Let’s say that you are trying to encourage people to buy a private jet- these people are likely to be fairly rich, and well educated. Linguists would use words of French, Latin and Greek origin in order to come across as more sophisticated, which would encourage them to buy the private jet.
For less sophisticated goods or services, or even goods/services for the masses, linguists would use Germanic words. This would make the brand seem more familiar to everyday people, and would thus increase sales. This is what makes it one of the best jobs for linguists.
3. Personal assistant to international businessmen
Whilst this may not be everyone’s forte, good personal assistants can earn up to $100,000 if they work for the right person!
Whilst this job may not entail always using your language skills, it would be one of the best jobs for linguists for another reason. Exposure.
Most international businessmen won’t just travel to France for you to use your French, but also Quebec, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland and Luxembourg. This would allow you to broaden your French undertsanding by the sheer different number of people you spoke French with.
Obviously, French isn’t the only language you can do this with. Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, German, English, Portuguese and Russian all have the same worldwide exposure! (Other languages do, but this is on a much smaller scale)
2. Linguistics professor
This is fairy self-explanatory, most universities offer foreign language courses, ranging from the well-known languages like Spanish and French, to less well known languages such as Catalan and Occitan.
Whilst this would require long hours at certain parts of the year (mainly when dissertations are due in) the pay is generally alright. On average, a linguistics professor can earn between $60,000 and $160,000!
This could be one of the best jobs for linguists as it would allow them to share their love of one (or possibly two if the university is short-staffed) foreign language(s) with similar, like-minded linguists.
1.Forensic linguist
You probably haven’t heard of a forensic linguist (neither had I until I started doing some research for this article). A forensic linguist is actually quite a noble profession.
A forensic linguist analyses language and speech patterns throughout a police interview, and can make sense of whether someone is guilty or not.
This article here goes into much more detail on what a forensic linguist is and what they do.
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best jobs for linguists. Are there any other jobs that you think I missed out? Tell me in the comments!