In times gone by, people who were deaf or hard of hearing often found it difficult to build successful careers, but this is no longer the case. There are now many professions where people who are deaf or hard of hearing can thrive and succeed.
Some of the best jobs for professionals who are deaf or hard of hearing include social media manager, brand strategist, sign language translator, writer, and proofreader. These jobs require skills that can be easily acquired in addition to whatever qualification the job seeker already has.
In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth description of the job options for deaf professionals. I will also look at the challenges people with hearing disabilities face and the factors required to make a working environment ideal. Let’s dive right in!
Workplace Challenges for People With Hearing Impairments
Many jobs are available for people with hearing impairments. However, we only wanted to select jobs with as few workplace challenges as possible. Here are the issues that deaf people usually have:
Communication
Communication is the main challenge for people with hearing impairments in the workplace. Not all employers accommodate those who are hard of hearing or deaf, which can result in important information or instructions being missed.
Effective Task Execution
A lack of effective task execution can be a direct result of misunderstanding instructions or conversations. Sometimes, when a deaf employee makes a mistake, their superior will blame it on the hearing impairment. However, this may not always be the case, and employers are becoming increasingly accommodating to the deaf or hard of hearing.
Inclusiveness
Feeling part of the team is essential if you want to feel happy at work. Unfortunately, the hard of hearing or deaf can sometimes feel isolated in the workplace if co-workers don’t try to include them in conversations and meetings.
Best Jobs for People With Hearing Impairments
Without further ado, here are the jobs that pose the fewest challenges for deaf people:
1. Caregiver Or Teacher For Deaf Children
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 10% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 298 childcare jobs are available on
Children that are hard of hearing or deaf have additional needs in a daycare setting. Working as a daycare teacher or caregiver is the ideal career for a deaf person who loves kids.
The job involves caring for children who are deaf or hard of hearing during the day and teaching them how to use sign language for effective communication.
Some of the advantages of this career include:
- Enjoying a rewarding job where you can use personal experience to help young children develop their full potential
- Good pay and other benefits
Requirements
- A level 2 qualification in childcare
- Teaching license
- Skilled in using sign language for communication
2. Writer Or Proofreader
- Average Salary: between $20 and $100 per 1000 words.
- Workload: 90% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 83,328 writer jobs are available on
If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have a talent for the written word, working as a writer or proofreader could be a highly enjoyable career for you.
Writers create a wide range of content, such as blog posts or website pages, while proofreaders evaluate already-written content for errors.
Many writers and proofreaders work from home and can choose their own hours. This makes it a fantastic career for stay-at-home parents or people who love traveling.
Requirements
- Excellent writing skills
- Native or near-native fluency in the English language
- Ability to work without supervision
- An eye for detail and the ability to evaluate written content critically
3. Warehouse Jobs
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 90% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 59,097 warehouse jobs are available on
Deaf people can work in a warehouse without productivity or security issues. Amazon and other employers have put in place emergency visual notifications and real-time captioning for people with hearing impairments.
Ideal warehouse jobs for people with hearing disabilities are:
- Warehouse packer
- Warehouse material handler
- Forklift operator
- Storing associate
- Shipping associate
Requirements
Warehouse managers can offer written warehouse training. Here are some common qualifications for warehouse workers:
- Ability to lift heavy objects
- Proficiency in inventory softwares
- A high school diploma or equivalent might be required for some positions
4. Sign Language Interpreter
- Salary: $32 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 13 language interpreter jobs are available on
As someone who is hard of hearing or deaf, you are likely fluent in sign language. Working as a sign language interpreter could be the perfect job for you if you want to help improve communication between the deaf or hard of hearing and the rest of the community.
It can be a very rewarding career because you can use your own experience to help others.
As a sign language interpreter, you are responsible for interpreting spoken language (through lip reading) and converting it into sign language. Sign language interpreters work in various settings and sometimes also teach sign language.
Requirements
- Fluent in ASL (American Sign Language)
- Certification as an accredited sign language interpreter
5. Graphic Designer
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 126 graphic designer jobs are available on
Do you enjoy organizing content in an eye-catching way? If so, working as a graphic designer might be the ideal career for you. Those who are creative and hard of hearing or deaf can have rewarding careers in this field since it is visually focused.
Other duties as a web designer might also include:
- Creating unique designs and layouts for clients’ websites
- Designing logos for small businesses
- Creating the layout and aesthetics of a magazine
Graphic designers are in demand, so you can expect to earn a decent salary and find work easily. You also have the freedom to explore your inner creativity and can work remotely.
Requirements
- Eye for detail
- Creativity and proficiency in graphic designs
- Adept in the use of software such as Illustrator and Photoshop
6. Construction Worker
- Salary: $21 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 890 construction worker jobs are available on
According to Construction Management, more employers should hire deaf workers in the construction industry. They state that too many employers are still hesitant to hire people with disabilities due to health and safety regulations.
The easiest jobs to land in the construction industry for people with hearing impairments are:
- Carpenter
- Painter
- Plumber
- Electrician
Requirements
There is no particular formal education for construction workers, although those who work in electricity and plumbing should have a high school diploma. Technical diplomas and apprentiships for specific vocations like welding are also available.
7. Accountant
- Average Salary: $53,000 per year.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 16,254 accountant jobs are available on
Have you ever wondered if accounting is an option for people with hearing impairment? It definitely is, here is a video from the Deaf@Work Series where you can experience the daily life of a deaf accountant: Meet Yan the Deaf Senior Accountant.
Even though some accounting careers have the reputation of being mundane and boring, here is a list of careers in accounting that are not boring.
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration
- Attention to details
- Familiarity with accounting softwares
8. Social Worker
- Average Salary: $74,584 per year.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 4,339 social worker jobs are available on
Social workers are responsible for supporting vulnerable people and helping them improve their daily lives. The job may also include fighting for justice for minority groups (such as the deaf or hard of hearing).
Other duties can include:
- Liaising with colleagues, families, and other professionals.
- Providing advocacy for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in society and connecting them with the necessary resources.
In addition to having the opportunity to work with diverse groups of people, becoming a social worker offers other benefits, such as:
- High demand for your services and the potential for high earnings
- Commensurate employment benefits, including paid leave, health insurance, and sick leave
- Potential to have your student loan forgiven.
Requirements
- BA in social work (or BSW as it is referred to in some regions), psychology, or sociology
- Well-versed in using sign language if you want to work with people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Effective reporting skills
9. Data Entry Clerk
- Average Salary: from as little as $5 up to $25 per hour.
- Workload: 10% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 511 data entry clerk jobs are available on
If you enjoy routine and organizing large quantities of data into neat and logical formats, you may like working as a data entry clerk.
A typical day as a data entry clerk involves entering company data into websites, spreadsheets, or new software or updating existing information in the software.
Many data entry clerks work from home, but there are also plenty of in-office jobs. One of the main benefits of this job is that you don’t need any certificates or degrees, and only minimal training is required.
Requirements
- Proficiency in using spreadsheets and using a wide range of software.
- Ability to type fast and process data quickly.
10. Social Media Manager
- Salary: $15 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 70 social media manager jobs are available on
If you love spending time on social media, you might consider making a career out of it. Becoming a social media manager is an excellent option if you are creative and enjoy working as part of a dynamic team.
Some of your duties may include:;
- Leading a team of social media executives and training them
- Staying abreast of social media developments and features
- Managing creative content and engagements on social media platforms to promote your organization
As a social media manager, you can expect a good salary and a fun working environment.
Requirements
- Creativity
- Team player
- Tech-savvy
- Ability to work odd hours and under pressure.
11. Marketing Strategist
- Average Salary: $65594 per year.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 34 marketing strategist jobs are available on
A marketing and brand strategist is an excellent career choice for someone who is hard of hearing or deaf and has a passion for marketing and helping brands grow.
The job involves crafting marketing strategies and analyzing consumer behavior to help define the company’s positioning. You might also oversee the company’s brand management and marketing campaigns.
The advantages of working as a marketing and brand strategist include the opportunity to explore your creative abilities and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Creative and data-driven
12. Audiologist
- Average Salary: $89,195 per year.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 76 audiologist jobs are available on
An audiologist is responsible for assessing people who are deaf or hard of hearing and providing treatment. If you are also deaf or hard of hearing, you will be in a unique position to teach sign language and lip reading, as well as assist clients with hearing aids.
Audiologists also provide support and counseling for patients and their families and educate clients on the best ways to prevent and treat hearing loss.
The job has the potential for high earnings, and other benefits, including:
- Audiology is a fast-growing field and promises a progressive path to career growth
- Fantastic employment benefits, including sick leave, health insurance, paid vacation, and a pension plan
- Audiology is a rewarding career that enables you to help patients understand their situation better and learn to cope with it. You can watch your patients thrive and succeed in their daily lives and jobs
Requirements
- A degree in Audiology
- A degree in communication disorders, sound engineering, or related sciences and an AuD degree
- A combination of an AuD and a Ph.D. degree is an added advantage
- Candidates stand a better chance of getting hired and earning more with these two certifications: Certificate Holder—Tinnitus Management® (CH-TM) and Certificate Holder—Audiology Preceptor® (CH-AP)
- A license to practice in your state
13. Medical Lab Technician
- Salary: $26 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 338 medical lab technician jobs are available on
Are you interested in the medical field and have a scientific brain? If so, a job as a medical lab technician might be the perfect job for you.
The job involves analyzing samples using scientific equipment, such as microscopes, to locate microorganisms. Medical lab technicians also ensure that blood for transfusion is a match with the receiver, and they prepare samples for analysis.
A medical lab technician’s working environment is typically quiet and solitary, making it perfect for introverts.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Associates’s degree in biochemistry, pharmacy, or forensic science
- Meticulous nature and the ability to concentrate for long periods
The Ideal Workplace Environment for People With Hearing Impairments
Having identified the challenges that people who are deaf or hard of hearing face in the workplace, let’s discuss some tips on creating the ideal workplace for them:
A Workplace That Cares About Staff With Hearing Impairments
Employers are usually concerned about the bottom line, and prioritizing reasonable adjustments for staff with hearing impairments is only sometimes a top priority. However, these adjustments are vital.
In some countries, such as the UK and US, the government has schemes that give financial aid to employers to make reasonable adjustments in their workplace for hearing-impaired employees.
Some common and easy-to-implement workplace adjustments include:
- Holding meetings using a round table so that the deaf or hard of hearing person can lip read
- Ensuring that the office is well-lit so that the employee can lip read more easily
- Requesting employees to speak one at a time so that the employee doesn’t miss crucial information
- Provide written instead of verbal instructions
- Face the employee during oral communication so that they can lip read
- Providing hearing loops
A Workplace that Teaches Effective Communication
Educating the workforce on how to communicate effectively with each other is conducive to a healthy working environment. If you have a deaf or hard-of-hearing team member, here’s how you can help improve communication in your office:
- Do not cover your mouth when you are talking to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing
- Enunciate your words; do not speak too slowly or too fast
- Ensure that you use common gestures, facial expressions, and lip movements
- Do not use ambiguous words; learn to speak plainly.
- Always face them when speaking
- Catch their attention before you start talking
A Workplace that Safeguards Everyone’s Health and Safety
The health and safety of all employees (including the deaf and hard of hearing) can be safeguarded in the following ways:
- Using visual fire alarms that flash to alert employees of danger
- Having emergency marshals whose primary responsibility is to alert the hearing-impaired or deaf in case of emergencies
- Providing health and safety training that is specially created for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Installing flashing doorbells or vibrating pagers to alert the person when someone enters their office
With the above in mind, it is safe to say that anyone can have their dream job, regardless of any physical impairment.