If you’re bilingual in English and Spanish, your education and experience can open many doors for you. Spanish is considered one of the four major language groups, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. If you majored in Spanish and are fluent in the language, there are job opportunities available to you that may take you around the globe while earning a salary.
If you work well with people and can communicate fluently in Spanish, you could work as a translator. Translators can work as freelance contractors or salaried employees translating documents or spoken language. Translators work in schools, courtrooms and hospitals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, translators earn a salary of $43,330 a year on average and the job outlook is positive and growing. Although many working in the field have a bachelor's degree, language fluency is the key factor in getting a position as a translator.
Customer Service Representative
If you’ve called an 800 phone number recently in an effort to speak with a customer service representative, you’ve likely heard a message — “press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish.” With so many people in the United States now speaking Spanish as a first or only language, companies have adapted their staffing requirements to meet the communication needs of customers. Customer service representatives are employed in a number of fields, including with banks, insurance companies and stores. You could be responsible for answering phones or interacting with the public, depending on the position. A customer service representative can earn an average salary of $30,460 a year without having to go to college.
Spanish majors who have met the requirements for teaching in their state can also work in the classroom as teachers. Spanish is still considered one of the most common world languages taught in the United States. Schools are promoting bilingualism in the classroom in recognition of the changing demographics of the country. Teaching in a classroom in the United States normally requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. If you majored in Spanish but do not meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Education for teaching, you are not out of options. Talk with your local library or college and inquire about teaching a continuing education course to share your knowledge of Spanish with others. Spanish classes are taught in every state, so the opportunities are vast. A high school Spanish teacher can earn an average annual salary of $53,230.
There are a number of tourism companies in the United States that offer vacation packages to Spain and Latin America. If you are bilingual, speaking Spanish and English, consider working as a tour guide for a company that travels to Spain and other Spanish-speaking destinations. Imagine having your vacations paid for as you travel across the globe and guide vacationers through a foreign country. Your fluency in Spanish will assist those who cannot communicate in the language with their travels as they traverse the country taking in museums and historical sites. Tour guides make an average annual salary of $26,660.
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