Learn the most important English words for jobs and occupations. This guide covers common job titles, work categories, and useful terms to help you describe your career and ask about other people’s work.
Common Job Titles
These are some of the most common job titles you’ll encounter in English. They include roles from various fields like business, education, healthcare, and more.
| English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence | Part of Speech | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| teacher | teachers | My sister is a teacher at a local school. | noun | Education |
| doctor | doctors | The doctor will see you now. | noun | Healthcare |
| engineer | engineers | He works as an engineer in a software company. | noun | Technology |
| manager | managers | She is the manager of the sales team. | noun | Business |
| nurse | nurses | Nurses provide care for patients. | noun | Healthcare |
| accountant | accountants | The accountant handled our taxes. | noun | Finance |
| driver | drivers | The driver arrived early this morning. | noun | Transportation |
| chef | chefs | The chef prepared a delicious meal. | noun | Hospitality |
| lawyer | lawyers | The lawyer reviewed the contract. | noun | Legal |
| artist | artists | She is a talented artist. | noun | Arts |
She is the _____ of the sales team.
manager
'Manager' is correct because it refers to a person who leads or oversees a team.
Job Categories
Jobs are often grouped into broader categories based on the type of work they involve. Here are some common categories along with examples of jobs in each.
| Category | Example Job | Example Job | Example Job | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | teacher | professor | tutor | Jobs related to teaching and learning. |
| Healthcare | doctor | nurse | pharmacist | Jobs focused on health and medical care. |
| Business | manager | accountant | salesperson | Jobs in offices and companies. |
| Technology | engineer | programmer | IT support | Jobs involving computers and technology. |
| Arts | artist | musician | designer | Creative jobs in art, music, and design. |
| Legal | lawyer | paralegal | judge | Jobs related to law and justice. |
| Hospitality | chef | waiter | hotel receptionist | Jobs in restaurants, hotels, and tourism. |
| Transportation | driver | pilot | delivery person | Jobs that involve travel and moving goods. |
Useful Words for Talking About Jobs
Here are some common English words and phrases that will help you describe jobs, work environments, and responsibilities.
| English Word/Phrase | Example Sentence | Part of Speech | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| employee | She is an employee at a tech company. | noun | A person who works for a company. |
| employer | The employer offers good benefits. | noun | A person or company that hires workers. |
| colleague | I have lunch with my colleagues. | noun | A person you work with. |
| boss | My boss is very supportive. | noun | The person in charge at work. |
| full-time | He works full-time. | adjective | Working the full number of hours. |
| part-time | I have a part-time job in a café. | adjective | Working fewer hours than full-time. |
| salary | Her salary is $50,000 a year. | noun | The money paid for a job. |
| career | He wants a career in marketing. | noun | A long-term job path or profession. |
| interview | I have a job interview tomorrow. | noun | A meeting to apply for a job. |
| experience | She has five years of experience. | noun | Skills gained from working. |
The ____ offers good benefits to the workers.
employer
'Employer' is the person or company that hires employees and may offer benefits.
How to Use Jobs Vocabulary
- To say what someone does, use the pattern: “I am a [job title].” or “He/She works as a [job title].”
- To ask about someone’s job, you can say: “What do you do?” or “What is your job?”
- When talking about work hours, use full-time or part-time.
- Use salary to talk about how much money someone earns.
- Use career when talking about a person’s long-term professional life.
This jobs vocabulary will help you talk confidently about work in English, whether you’re describing your own job, asking about others, or writing about careers.
Flashcards (1 of 20)
- Example Sentence: My sister is a teacher at a local school.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Category: Education
- English Singular: teacher
- English Plural: teachers
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
