5 Career Paths and Jobs for Spanish Majors

Next to Chinese, Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world. As such, earning a degree in Spanish makes you a valuable asset to any business. But learning a second language is hard work. Spanish majors spend hours developing their skills in:

• language
• reading
• writing

They also travel abroad to immerse themselves in Spanish culture. But the hard work pays off because jobs for Spanish majors are in high demand.

Why Study Spanish?

Spanish is one of six official languages of the United Nations. It’s recognized in 21 countries as an official language. Because of its popularity, Spanish majors have many job options. Industries where you find Spanish degree jobs include:

• Entertainment and Media
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Import and Export
• Teaching and Education
• Translating and Interpreting

Top 5 Spanish Careers to Consider

There are plenty of Spanish major jobs if you know where to look. And if you speak Spanish fluently, there are rewarding career opportunities available. In this article, we discuss the different places you can work with a degree in Spanish. If you’ve wondered what can you do with a Spanish degree, you’ll find out below. Read on for more information on Spanish degree jobs.

1. Entertainment and Media

Entertainment and media outlets offer Spanish major careers. With a degree in Spanish, you can work for:

• Spanish literature companies
• Spanish magazines
• Spanish television and radio networks

The above industries want people who can translate articles and transcribe subtitles. They also want qualified people to do voice-overs. If you speak Spanish and know about Hispanic culture, your skills will be useful in Spanish literature and media. Bilingual Spanish media jobs are out there if you know where to search. For example, Disney looks for Spanish-speaking people to work as translators and interpreters. Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution in Mexico City hires hundreds of recent college graduates with Spanish degrees. Publishing and other media formats also hire those with Spanish degrees. They need people to publish content for the bilingual market. These specialized publishers also develop and edit content for the Spanish population. As a result, they need qualified people to market to their audience.

2. Hospitality and Tourism

After a summer or semester abroad, some Spanish majors get bitten by the travel bug. They find entry level jobs in hospitality because it offers Spanish majors careers in fields where they can use their Spanish language skills. Some students earn a dual degree in Spanish and hospitality. Others pick up a minor in hospitality. Combining the two subjects can lead to travel and a rewarding career path. Spanish majors find work in:

• au pair agencies
• cruise ships
• cultural exchange agencies
• hotels
• resorts and spas
• restaurants

What can you do with a Spanish major and an interest in hospitality? The answer is simple. Many things. You can work as:

• cultural events coordinators
• cruise ship crew members
• hotel concierges
• tour guides
• translators at a resort hotel

Another example of a hospitality and tourism career for Spanish majors is a cultural events coordinator. You find this role in colleges, nonprofits, and universities. In this job, you schedule, plan, and manage cultural events. You serve on cultural events committees and work with communications departments. You even oversee advertisements, promotional materials, and publications. If you’re in a management role, you also supervise volunteers and staff. This career is one of the highest paying Spanish major jobs.

3. Import and Export

Import and export businesses hire Spanish majors. These organizations need people who know Spanish language and customs. They want Spanish speakers with excellent written and verbal communications skills. If you’re interested in business and have Spanish language skills, a career in import and export might be a good fit. As a bonus, you get to travel. In this industry, you can work in roles such as:

• buyer
• international relations consultant
• marketer
• merchandiser
• purchaser

One of the top paying jobs for those with a Spanish degree is an import and export logistics coordinator. You must speak Spanish fluently to land this job. But the pay is high and you get to travel. To qualify for import and export jobs, you must have both a business and Spanish background. Students major in both Spanish and business, picking up dual degrees. They also earn a business degree and a Spanish concentration or minor to qualify for Spanish major jobs.

4. Teaching

Unless you have family members with Spanish proficiency who are fluent in a foreign language, the only way to learn is to take lessons. If you’re passionate about teaching others, and are fluent in Spanish, consider a career as a teacher. Spanish majors become high school teachers of English or Spanish. In fact, there are many careers for Spanish majors in education because you know the Spanish language. You can teach English to native Spanish speakers. You can also teach Spanish to native English speakers. And if you’ve spent time abroad and desire to return, there are opportunities to travel. You can teach English to children in Spain or Spanish language to English speaking students. But to land a job as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, you must be fluent in Spanish and English. Some entry level jobs for Spanish speakers require you have a teaching degree. But with this second degree, you can teach high school or courses in college Spanish programs. Spanish high school teachers often teach one language or two, such as English and Spanish. ESL teachers show students how to communicate in English. You teach them how to:

• read in English
• speak English
• write in English

The students you teach are often immigrants to the United States. For example, they may arrive in the US speaking only Spanish. Your job is to help them learn to speak languages, such as English. ESL Spanish teachers also connect students and their families to:

• job placement services
• resources in the community
• translation services

5. Translating and Interpreting

English to Spanish and Spanish to English interpreters are in demand. Since there are 21 Spanish-speaking nations, knowing Spanish can help you find a job. Spanish majors find work in all kinds of businesses. From education to healthcare, translators should see job growth over the next ten years. As a result, earning a Spanish degree gives you many job options. But no matter where you work as a translator or interpreter, your duties are the same. Interpreters interpret. The goal is to have people hear your interpretation of one language as though it’s the original language. Translators translate. They have a similar goal as an interpreter, but their work is in written form. The goal of a translator is to have people read a translation as though it were the original written material. Three common interpreting modes include:

• Consecutive interpreters
• Sight translation interpreters
• Simultaneous interpreters

Spanish consecutive interpreters translate a speaker’s message into Spanish after a speaker stops talking. Sight translation interpreters translate written documents into Spanish. Simultaneous Spanish interpreters translate Spanish into another language while a speaker is talking. You find these three job types in areas like:

• business
• education
• government
• law
• political science

Employment Outlook for Spanish Majors

Spanish majors should see good job growth over the next ten years. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a 24% growth in jobs for interpreters and translators through 2030. Job growth should result from the need to replace those who retire or exit the labor force. Growth should also result from globalization. This means job growth will result from immigration. As people move to the United States from other countries, we will see more translator jobs. With a Spanish degree, your job prospects will be high. However, you need specialized training to work as an interpreter or translator. But a bachelor’s in Spanish degree will make you competitive. Once you have your degree in Spanish and training, you’re ready to find a job that will put your Spanish language skills to work. Job growth in healthcare is especially favorable for Spanish majors. In this industry, you can find work as:

• an educator
• language coach
• interpreter
• translator

Other in-demand entry level jobs for speakers of other languages include high school teachers and international relations.

Earnings for Spanish Majors

Pay for college graduates with Spanish degrees varies by job. But the BLS reports the average pay for Spanish interpreters and translators is $52,330/year. However, the lowest paid 10% make under $30,000/year and the highest 10% earn over $96,400/year. Top paying industries for interpreters and translators include:

• educational services
• government
• hospitals – state, local, and private
• professional, scientific, and technical services

These job opportunities ask for a Spanish degree. Consider a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree. But as a Spanish major, you open the door to working with a diverse crowd of people. You also gain an equally diverse future because of your exposure to different cultures. In any one of the above fields, you put your Spanish language and culture skills to work. And as a result, you’re paid a stable income with good job growth.

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish?

Besides the above careers for Spanish majors, two popular jobs often overlooked include:

Government Work

Government jobs for Spanish majors offer high wages and good employment growth. You find jobs in federal and state government agencies. Agencies who hire those with a Spanish degree and Spanish language skills include the Census Bureau and the Department of Treasury. You can also work as foreign service diplomats or immigration specialists. Other government agencies that offer Spanish careers include the FBI, CIA, and DEA. And if you’re interested in research, research associate jobs exist in many agencies.

Service Work

Service work jobs offer good pay and a strong job outlook. For Spanish majors, service work includes jobs like:

• income tax consultants in Spanish-speaking areas
• outreach specialists in low income communities
• paraprofessionals in schools

Service workers work as bilingual liaisons between customers and clients. They work as bilingual customer support staff. Service workers also take entry level jobs as tour guides or youth service specialists.

Important Qualities for Spanish-Related Careers

Certain skills, such as reading, speaking, and writing in Spanish, are necessary for Spanish careers. But what about qualities that aren’t taught in the classroom? What makes you a success in your bilingual career? What qualities should you have for success on the job?

Business savvy

Strong business skills help you in your role as an interpreter or translator who works for yourself. You need business savvy to manage your own finances. You also need business skills to bill clients, market your services, and keep records. If you want to run your own business, you should have a good business sense.

Communication skills

You need good communication skills to work with the public. And since translators and interpreters work with others, your communication skills should be sharp. Communication skills aren’t only verbal. Listening skills are as important as speaking other languages clearly.

Concentration

Spanish careers need people who can concentrate. As an interpreter or translator, you must concentrate while listening and speaking to others. You must also keep your focus and not become distracted. If you can concentrate, you have a highly sought-after skill.

Cultural sensitivity

Cultural knowledge and sensitivity are important for roles that require bilingual abilities. Why? Because you work with people who have different cultures than your own. You should not only understand a different language, but also a different culture. You should be sensitive to cultural differences. You should also understand expectations when helping others to communicate.

Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are important for Spanish careers. Since you work with people, you must get along with others. You should also listen and understand different perspectives. And if you own your own business, you need to build and maintain relationships with your clients. Building relationships helps your business succeed.

Listening skills

You must be a good listener if you’re translating or interpreting languages. Being able to listen to an audience of Spanish speakers and then translate what you hear is an important skill. As a Spanish major, you develop your listening skills in the classroom. But your real training comes from learning on the job.

In summary: What Can I Do with A Spanish Degree?

Since Spanish is one of the world’s most popular foreign languages, jobs are endless for Spanish majors. As a Spanish major, you learn to write and read in another language. You learn critical reading and composition skills. But not everything you learn is in the classroom. You also get to travel abroad. Many students earning a Spanish degree go to Spain or another Spanish-speaking country where you learn about the culture and people. Then after you graduate, you can return to the places you traveled. You can even land a job in another country. Spanish majors work around the globe and in many different roles. The most common Spanish careers are translators, Spanish teachers, and interpreters.

Related Resources:

5 Top Paying Careers with a Bachelor’s in Spanish

15 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Spanish Degrees Online

20 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Foreign Language

30 Best Online Bachelor’s in English Degrees

This concludes our article on the top 5 careers for Spanish majors.