Where a lexicographer can go next
5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a lexicographer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Lexicographers write and compile the content for dictionaries. They also determine which new words are common use and should be included in the glossary.
Also known as bilingual dictionaries lexicographer, bilingual dictionary editor, dictionary editor, computational lexicographer, senior lexicographer, lexicologist, linguistic lexicographer.
Professionals 28 skills on file 5 career moves 0 above 60% overlap Closest: proofreader, 42%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A lexicographer needs 11 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- create definitions communication, collaboration and creativity
- practical lexicography arts and humanities
- search databases working with computers
- linguistics arts and humanities
- spelling arts and humanities
- consult information sources information skills
- grammar arts and humanities
- apply grammar and spelling rules communication, collaboration and creativity
- follow work schedule management skills
- copyright legislation business, administration and law
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a lexicographer does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- translator 52% covered · difficulty 47.2
- copy editor 40% covered · difficulty 57
- proofreader 40% covered · difficulty 57
- writer 38% covered · difficulty 58.7
- interpreter 36% covered · difficulty 60.1
- book editor 34% covered · difficulty 61.7
- interpretation agency manager 34% covered · difficulty 61.7
- subtitler 34% covered · difficulty 61.7
- sign language interpreter 28% covered · difficulty 66.2
- fact checker 24% covered · difficulty 69
Look up another occupation
Lexicographer is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a lexicographer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.