15 Awesome Jobs for Deaf People

Deaf people must face several obstacles to get the same outcome as non-deaf people, and too often, they must fight for necessary accommodations.

Thus, finding the right career can be even more complicated and come with a lot of stress.

Fortunately, deaf people can work in any industry, but specific careers may be more accessible and lend themselves to success for deaf people.

The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes suggests that deaf people were most commonly found in industries such as information service, finance, transportation, entertainment, and education.

Still, these are just a few industries where deaf people can succeed.

Salary and career data has been collected from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

15 Awesome Jobs for Deaf People

Audiologist

Audiologists have a special place in the healthcare industry, and this career is a great way for deaf people to work with people who have hearing or related issues.

Audiologists need to have a doctorate in audiology, so it takes time and investment to get into this career.

Fortunately, jobs in this career are growing by 10%, which is faster than most, so the 10-year outlook for this career is good.

The average salary for an audiologist in the United States is 78,950, so audiologists can expect to make a good living.

Deaf Teacher

Offering attention and services to the deaf community is a great way to foster more opportunities for deaf people and to help the community.

That’s why becoming a teacher for other deaf people can be a highly rewarding career path for deaf individuals.

Communication is such an important part of life, and deaf teachers help students of all ages learn to use their skills and adapt to hard situations.

These teachers make an average of $62,000; however, the salary does vary drastically depending on the type of institution where you work.

For example, private schools will pay a lot more than working within a public school system.

Journalist or Writer

Journalists and writers use language to communicate with other people, and this career can be fitting for deaf people who love to write about news stories, write non-fiction topics, or even write fictional stories.

There are so many options for what writing a person can do, and this is a job that can be done at home as well, which is a great perk.

Journalists and writers generally make between 41,000 and 61,000 each year, and the average salary is $54,963.

The good news is that writers and journalists are in demand, and there are plenty of ways to keep up with this ever-changing industry.

Software Development and Engineering

Software development and engineering is a rapidly growing industry and allows for a lot of professional growth.

It is perfect for people who are interested in creating new things on their computers and using the power of software to solve problems.

Software developers can expect to make $109,000.

With a 25% growth rate, the demand for people in these positions will be huge in the next decade.

Healthcare Worker

The healthcare industry is full of various jobs that can be great for deaf people.

Deaf people often have exceptional empathy and communication skills, which they have learned from the challenges they inevitably face as deaf people in a world geared toward hearing people.

Therefore, deaf people’s skills prepare them for long careers in healthcare.

The education required in the healthcare industry will depend on the specific occupation.

For example, a healthcare aide may need certification or licensing but does not necessarily need postsecondary education.

Meanwhile, a doctor will need to go to medical school and go through a long training process.

Healthcare careers have a good prognosis.

With an aging population and people always needing healthcare, this industry is anticipated to grow by 13% in the next decade, which is higher than average growth.

With nearly 2 million job openings yearly, healthcare is a safe bet.

Across healthcare practitioners and technicians, the median salary is just over $75,000, while across all occupations in healthcare, the average is $45,760.

Some of the average salaries for healthcare professionals are:

• Doctor: $208,000
• Registered Nurse: $77,600
• Physician’s Assistant: $121,530
• Occupational therapists: $85,570
• Dentists: $163,220
• Dieticians: $61,650
• Paramedics: $36,930
• Massage Therapists: $46,910
• Personal care aides: $29,430
• Veterinarian: $100,370

Mental Health Professional

Mental health professionals are important members of the workforce because they help people who are struggling the most. \

Deaf people often face unique challenges that make them more compassionate and understanding, which is why they can be so beneficial in mental health spaces.

These professionals can work in many spaces like schools, government buildings, hospitals, clinics, private offices, and even from home!

Careers in community and social service areas are anticipated to grow ten percent in the next ten years, and there will be over 300,000 available jobs opening up each year in these areas.

The median wage in these occupations is higher than the national average at $48,410, but the range of how much money a person can earn is huge.

Some professions to consider are:

• School Counselor: $60,510 per year
• Therapists: $49,880 per year
• Social Worker: $50,390 per year
• Behavioral or Mental Health Counselor: $48,520 per year
• Psychiatric Technicians: $36,230
• Psychiatrist: $208,000
• Psychologists: $81,040

Legal Sector

For those who love justice and want to make the world a better place, a career in law is an excellent choice.

Many deaf people have faced discrimination or a world that isn’t designed with them in mind, so they know that laws and the legal sector can be powerful promoters of change for the better.

Some salaries in this sector are:

• Lawyer: $128,000
• Paralegals: $56,000
• Court Reporters: $60,000
• Arbitrators and Mediators: $49,000
• Judges: $128,000

With an estimated 10% growth rate, the legal industry is a good choice for a long career.

Skilled Trades

Skilled trades require some additional training, but they often require less than a four-year degree, enabling people to get working faster.

Deaf people often excel in these trades, and they can make good money with very little educational investment.

The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes suggests that nearly 25% of deaf people work in construction or manufacturing fields, so these are often a very good fit.

Some salaries for skilled trades are:

• Electrician: $57,000
• Carpenter: $50,000
• Car Technician: $44,000
• Machinery mechanic: $55,000
• HVAC worker: $49,000

Certified Deaf Interpreter

Being an interpreter is a great way for deaf people to use their experiences as a career.

They can help connect people and facilitate communication in a wide range of settings.

Interpreters can work in fields like entertainment, healthcare, and government, so there are many options to look into.

Interpreters make around $61,000 per year, so they can make a pretty good living in this profession.

Additionally, as accessibility becomes more important, interpreters will have a greater role in society.

Sales and Marketing

Marketing is a good industry for people who excel at convincing others they are right and appealing to what people want to get optimal outcomes.

Many deaf people can become great marketers, and marketers can work in many interesting fields, depending on what interests them.

The average salary for people who work in sales is around $31,000.

While this industry isn’t really growing, with nearly 2 million openings per year, it isn’t that hard to get into this industry.

Customer Support

Customer support is a good career for people who like to problem-solve and interact with other people, and it’s a job that you can do without a college degree.

Deaf people work well as chat support agents, and they can even do so from the comfort of their own homes.

Chat support is good because they don’t need to hear what the customer is saying and can use written communication skills.

Teaching and Education

Beyond specialized teaching for deaf students, some deaf people choose to work as teachers or educators in non-deaf spaces, and that is perfectly possible too.

While working with non-deaf people can present new challenges, teaching is all about wanting to help students grow, and as long as someone has that passion, they can easily excel in this career.

The average salaries in teaching and education can vary greatly.

While the median wage is just over $57,000, this number is increased by teachers at private schools and in higher education who get paid more.

Higher-paying jobs are harder to find, but with some patience, they can become available.

Many teachers are underpaid, so they often rely on summer jobs and their passion for teaching to get them through.

The industry is growing, and there are many chances for people to get into the educational field.

Entertainment and Sports Industry

The entertainment and sports industry is an exciting place for deaf people to work, and they can take on so many different roles that the possibilities are endless.

As society becomes more inclusive, the opportunities for deaf people will also become more inclusive in the entertainment industry.

For example, deaf actors may become more prominent, and opportunities will increase.

The average wage for this industry is $49,000.

Some good careers in the entertainment industry for deaf people include:

• Actors
• Athletes
• Coaches
• Referees
• Musicians
• Dancers
• Assistants
• Producers
• Directors
• Personalities

Childcare

The childcare industry could use more deaf people, and deaf people can be especially useful in settings where children may be deaf.

Too often, there aren’t a lot of good options for children who are deaf and need childcare, but you can make a difference.

Childcare workers earn an average of $29,000 each year.

While this job requires a lot of work and energy, it is highly rewarding to help kids build strong foundations for the rest of their lives.

Architecture and Engineering

Architecture and engineering allow people to build the world around them.

There are a lot of science, math, and logical skills involved in these professions, so this would be a good career for people interested in STEM.

Deaf people can adapt well to these settings as well, but there can be some communication hurdles to get over, but these obstacles are certainly not insurmountable.

This industry has a modest 4% growth rate, but with an average wage of $79,840, people can do pretty well with occupations in these areas.