Spanish Career Outlook
The Spanish major focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects and includes instruction in philology; Modern Castillan; Latin American and regional Spanish dialects; and applications in business, science/technology and other settings.
To find out more about your major including potential areas and employers, required skills, job outlook and median pay, please access the Occupational Outlook Handbook or O*Net websites.
Career Outlook
Explore the subsections below to learn more about the potential skills a student with a Spanish major can develop as well as the potential positions, areas and employers that hire students with this degree. Please note that these are not exhaustive lists and should be used as a starting point.
Skills
As a Spanish major, students may develop or advance skills including proficiency in Spanish, communication, problem analysis and solving, analytical, research, argument construction and intercultural competence.
Positions
Graduates with a degree in Spanish can work as interpreter/translators, bilingual customer support associates, tour guides, liaisons, researchers, law enforcement officers, caseworkers, human services specialists, technical writers/experts, foreign correspondents, cultural events coordinators and international relations consultants.
Areas
Graduates with a degree in Spanish can work within the following areas: diplomacy, linguistics, immigration and naturalization, customs, journalism/broadcasting, banking/finance, sales, import/export, travel/tourism, hospitality, advertising/marketing, customer service and business.
Employers
Graduates with a degree in Spanish can work for federal, state and local government agencies, intelligence/law enforcement, healthcare, multi-national corporations, consulting firms, telecommunications, sports, advertising, professional associations, law firms, airlines/airports, car rental agencies, convention centers, news agencies, publishers, film and recording companies and design firms.
Helpful Resources
Use the employment opportunity resources below to kickstart your pre-professional or professional experience search. You may also identify a professional or student organization to join and network with individuals in your major and field. Please note that these are not exhaustive lists and should be used as a starting point.
- Bi-Lingual Jobs
- FBI Linguistics
- Idealist
- iHispano
- NBCUniversal
- Saludos Web (Hispanic Careers and Education)
- UNESCO
- United Nations
- U.S. Department of State (Foreign Service)
- USAJobs
- American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
- American Foreign Service Association
- American Translator's Association
- Association of International Educators
- Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs
- Council on International Educational Exchange
- Foreign Policy Association
- Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
- Institute of World Affairs
- International Association of Conference Translators
- International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language
- International Federation of Translators
- International Studies Abroad
- International Studies Association
- National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
- National Council on Interpreting in Health Care
- Unidos Student Organization at SXU