The continued growth of remote work allows people to pursue careers they may not have previously considered. That includes bilingual people. These individuals use their language fluency to find high-paying jobs that they can do from home. Some of the most lucrative remote roles include interpreting, international recruiting and study abroad advising.
Work-from-home jobs or remote work opportunities are more popular now than ever before. As job seekers hunt for roles that allow them greater flexibility to manage their lives, the ability to work from home or anywhere else is an attractive prospect. And that includes people who speak multiple languages.
Being bilingual can give job applicants an advantage when finding their next job opportunity. Being fluent in a second language opens a whole new realm of career possibilities.
Which jobs make the most sense for those who speak two (or more) languages? We explore some of the most popular jobs for people who want work-from-home flexibility and the ability to stretch their linguistic muscles.
1. Bilingual Interpreter
Becoming an interpreter is the most common job opportunity for someone who speaks more than one language. Interpreters help eliminate language barriers. They often do this in real-time by carefully listening to what one person says in a language and repeating it as close as possible in another. Interpreters can work in many different settings, including:
- Schools.
- Hospitals.
- Courtrooms.
- Meeting rooms.
- Conference centers.
Experts project the demand for interpreters to grow by 20% over the next decade, which makes people who can fulfill this role desirable to employers. Most interpreters must have a bachelor’s degree to enter the field, although conversational fluency can be a substitute. Salaries for this role vary by location, languages spoken and level of certification. The average salary for an interpreter in the United States is $48,983 annually.
2. English or Foreign Language Tutor
Online or in-home tutoring in either English or a second language can be a fantastic career option for those with an internet connection and a free schedule. Several online marketplaces for tutors — such as Verbling and iTalki — allow their users to practice conversation skills with real people who speak those languages.
Teachers for these platforms can often set hourly rates to match their comfort and skill level. Some websites make it possible to earn as much as $30 per hour by teaching and tutoring online. Depending on their marketing savvy, an online tutor can search for clients by expanding to other platforms like YouTube.
3. Digital Marketer
Digital marketers represent a growing segment of the advertising field. That job outlook only looks to improve as experts estimate a 10 percent growth in job availability over the next decade. But for those marketers who can speak multiple languages, the utility increases even more. Digital marketers can earn an average salary of up to $65,122 depending on experience, location and other incentives.
Bilingual digital marketers can specialize in various fields, from pay-per-click advertising to content marketing. But their real strength is in being able to write in other languages. As companies seek to serve a more diverse audience, having someone on staff who can write in multiple languages helps increase critical metrics.
4. International Recruiter
Businesses that seek to outsource talent from other countries — particularly BPO companies like call centers, customer support or telemarketing roles — often rely on international recruiters to help interview and source those candidates.
In addition to speaking multiple languages, an international recruiter must have general recruiting experience. This typically includes a bachelor’s degree in human resources, communications or business.
International recruiters make an average salary of $48,606, although those rates may vary based on their language, location and experience.
5. Speech Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists assess and treat those with communication disorders, particularly those with difficulty speaking. They primarily work in the medical field and support doctors, social workers, occupational therapists and other healthcare workers. In some cases, they even help those with trouble understanding language.
Nearly a quarter of the United States population speaks a language other than English at home. Although many people are multilingual, others may need help to talk. A bilingual speech-language pathologist can help offset these difficulties with therapies to help their patients or clients improve their speech in both English and their native language.
Speech-language pathologists earn a median salary of $79,060.
6. Customer Support Specialist
Customer support specialists work in various industries, but a common thread among all roles is helping to resolve service issues for companies. Many companies have chosen to outsource these roles to remote employees in recent years to keep costs low. As a result, the field is more accessible than ever.
For bilingual individuals, a role in customer support can be a rewarding experience. Because customers from all backgrounds regularly contact support teams, they need team members who can fluently speak multiple languages. The average salary for this job is $36,904, although that rate may vary depending on the languages spoken, location and other factors.
7. Medical Transcriber
Medical transcriptionists listen to recordings from doctors and other healthcare workers before translating them into written reports. They interpret medical terminology and help prepare patients’ medical histories. As part of their role, they must have a clear ear for detail and the ability to type the information into a report quickly.
Bilingual medical transcribers use their language skills to provide translations of foreign language text, audio or video into English. Transcriptionists can earn around $16.32 per hour for their work. Many of these jobs are available on a contract for freelance basis, allowing medical transcribers to set their work hours. This helps build a schedule around their unique needs.
8. Immigration Attorney
Immigration attorneys play an essential role in helping people move to the United States. They help immigrants navigate the legal challenges of staying in the country, whether through the visa application process or asylum seekers.
Owing to their proximity to people who speak different languages, bilingual immigration attorneys are a great help to their clients. By streamlining communications and aiding their clients as they complete necessary forms and paperwork, immigration attorneys are a vital bridge to life in America.
An immigration attorney can expect to make between $70,313 and $95,409, with a medium annual wage of $82,479.
9. Educational Content Creator
Creating educational content to help others learn a new language is a fantastic way to work from home. Whether creating materials for YouTube or writing curricula for platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers, being bilingual offers no shortage of benefits to this work. And like most digital product creation, it offers untold flexibility when setting hours and building a business.
10. Social Media Manager
Social media management is a demanding job that involves writing, proofreading, graphic design and knowing how to work in various platforms and programs. But it is a fast-growing and rewarding career. As companies reach out to more diverse audiences, they need the ability to scale their marketing to meet these audiences. That includes marketing to those audiences who speak or read a different language.
A bilingual social media manager will know the nuances of how to translate messaging for these audiences. They can help reach demographics companies want to engage with and create new growth opportunities. The average salary for a social media manager is $53,060, but that does not account for senior roles and campaign management — which can pay more.
11. Translator
One of the most prominent jobs for bilingual individuals is to work as a translator. Translators fill various needs, but their most common role is to take text, video or audio from someone and translate it into a different language. Translation is often a nuanced job that requires understanding facets of both languages.
Translators can work in several capacities and settings, including hospitals, courts, schools and government offices. Translators earn a median annual wage of $49,110, although that figure can vary based on the sector and company they work for.
12. Study Abroad Advisor
Working as a study abroad advisor allows bilingual individuals to help students navigate the challenges of living and learning in a different country. Study abroad advisors may work remotely and handle their job over video conferencing, or they may be local employees who work in an office setting. The median annual wage for a study abroad advisor was $51,190 as of September 2022.
Final Thoughts
Speaking another language is an incredible skill for American workers that can open many doors in the private and public sectors. As the economy continues to shift to a global presence and remote work grows in importance, those who can speak multiple languages can expect to have an edge — mainly when working with populations or organizations seeking to expand their operations outside the English-speaking market.
Top Takeaways
- Bilingual individuals have a unique skill set that allows them to work in many different industries, either remotely or in an office.
- Many companies want bilingual workers because it allows them to expand their reach and growth.
- Several jobs reward people fluent in other languages with increased salaries or growth opportunities.
(Reporting by NPD), Source – LinkedIn
