Terminologist

Builds dictionaries of precise technical terms in many languages for companies and governments.

A day in the life

Researches the correct Spanish, French, and Chinese terms for new battery technologies and adds them to a database translators rely on.

Pay over a career

Starting

$50k

Typical

$72k

High

$105k

Estimate.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Master's in translation or linguistics.

Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.

Majors to look at: Linguistics, Translation Studies.

Outlook

Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). Estimate.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

High risk for 10 years. AI extracts and translates technical terms automatically; few dedicated term-building jobs will remain.

Start now, in high school

Classes: A world language, AP English Language, AP Computer Science.

• Contribute to Wiktionary or Wikidata
• Compete in NACLO (linguistics olympiad)
• Build a bilingual glossary for a class

Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3091.

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Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.