Jobs & Professions Vocabulary in English
20 jobs and professions with meanings, example sentences, and free interactive games — ideal for A2–B1 learners.
Jobs and professions vocabulary is among the most practically important English you can learn. You need it in job interviews, CV writing, professional networking, and everyday introductions. When someone asks "What do you do?", having a confident, accurate answer in English makes a strong impression.
This page covers 20 of the most common and useful job titles in English, from well-known professions like doctor and teacher to increasingly important roles like engineer and programmer. Each word includes a clear definition and a natural example sentence showing how the job title is used in context.
Jobs vocabulary is closely connected to other important language areas: describing duties ("A doctor diagnoses and treats illness"), workplaces ("An architect works in an office or on a construction site"), and work-related actions ("A lawyer advises clients"). Learning job titles in context alongside these related words builds a richer vocabulary network.
Jobs vocabulary is frequently tested in English exams. IELTS Speaking Part 1 routinely asks "What is your job?" and "What does your job involve?" The Listening test often features workplace conversations. Read our Business English Phrases article to complement your jobs vocabulary with professional communication phrases.
Word List
| Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| doctor | a qualified person who diagnoses and treats illness and injury | The doctor examined the patient and prescribed antibiotics. |
| nurse | a healthcare professional who cares for patients | The nurse checked the patient's blood pressure every hour. |
| teacher | a person who instructs students in a school or other educational setting | The teacher explained the grammar rule with clear examples. |
| engineer | a person who designs, builds, or operates machines and structures | The engineer designed a bridge that could withstand earthquakes. |
| lawyer | a professional who advises clients on legal matters and represents them in court | She hired a lawyer to handle the contract dispute. |
| accountant | a person who manages financial records and accounts | The company's accountant prepared the annual tax return. |
| architect | a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction | The architect presented three design options for the new library. |
| programmer | a person who writes computer software code | The programmer fixed the bug in less than an hour. |
| journalist | a person who researches and writes news stories | The journalist interviewed witnesses at the scene. |
| chef | a professional cook who manages a restaurant kitchen | The chef created a new menu for the summer season. |
| pilot | a person qualified to fly aircraft | The pilot announced that they would land early due to tailwinds. |
| police officer | a member of the police force who enforces laws | The police officer directed traffic after the accident. |
| electrician | a skilled tradesperson who installs and repairs electrical systems | We called an electrician to fix the wiring problem. |
| plumber | a skilled tradesperson who installs and repairs water pipes | The plumber fixed the leaking tap in under an hour. |
| dentist | a doctor specialising in the health of teeth and gums | She visits the dentist twice a year for check-ups. |
| pharmacist | a professional who prepares and dispenses medicines | The pharmacist explained how to take the medication correctly. |
| social worker | a professional who supports individuals and families in need | The social worker arranged emergency housing for the family. |
| translator | a person who converts written text from one language to another | The translator worked on three languages simultaneously. |
| firefighter | a person trained to extinguish fires and rescue people | The firefighters arrived at the scene within four minutes. |
| scientist | a person who studies and researches natural phenomena using experiments | The scientist published her findings in an international journal. |
Practice with These Exercises
Flash Cards
Review job words with spaced repetition
Wordsearch
Find job words hidden in the grid
Match Up
Match jobs to their descriptions
Speaking Cards
Describe and guess job roles
Practice What You've Learned
LexFizz has 30 free interactive exercises — no sign-up needed.
Browse All Exercises →Related Vocabulary Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you talk about your job in English?
The most natural way to describe your job is: 'I am a doctor' or 'I work as a doctor'. You can add information about your workplace: 'I work at a hospital' or 'I work for a marketing company.' To describe your duties: 'I am responsible for...', 'I deal with...', 'My job involves...' For IELTS Speaking Part 1, prepare a 2-3 sentence description of your job that flows naturally.
What is the difference between a 'job', 'career', 'profession', and 'occupation'?
'Job' is the most informal and common word for paid employment: 'I have a new job.' 'Career' refers to your long-term professional life: 'She has had a successful career in medicine.' 'Profession' refers to a job requiring specialist training and qualifications: 'Teaching is a rewarding profession.' 'Occupation' is the most formal and is used in official documents: 'Occupation: Software Engineer.'
What are the most commonly tested job words in IELTS and Cambridge exams?
In Cambridge A2/B1 exams, the most common job words are: doctor, nurse, teacher, engineer, manager, receptionist, waiter, chef, driver, and police officer. IELTS Reading and Listening texts include a wider range: journalist, architect, economist, researcher, consultant, and paramedic. The vocabulary on this page covers all the key A2–B1 job titles plus several B2-level terms.
What is the difference between a 'job' and a 'work' in English?
'Work' is an uncountable noun referring to the general concept of employment: 'She goes to work at 8am.' 'A job' is a countable noun referring to a specific position: 'He has a new job.' You cannot say 'a work' in this context. However, 'a piece of work' or 'a body of work' refer to a specific product. 'Homework' and 'housework' are specific compound nouns that do not use 'job'.
How do you describe job duties in English?
Useful phrases: 'I am responsible for managing the team.', 'My role involves dealing with customer complaints.', 'I am in charge of the marketing department.', 'I work closely with clients.', 'I specialise in tax law.', 'My duties include preparing reports and attending meetings.' In IELTS Speaking, avoid just naming your job — describe what you actually do to demonstrate vocabulary range.
What is the difference between an 'employee', 'employer', and 'self-employed'?
An employee is a person who works for a company and is paid a salary or wage. An employer is the company or person who hires employees. 'Self-employed' means you work for yourself rather than for a company — freelancers, consultants, and sole traders are all self-employed. In IELTS Writing, these words appear in texts about employment trends, working conditions, and economic statistics.
What jobs use the suffix '-ist', '-er', '-or', and '-ian' in English?
'-ist': journalist, scientist, pharmacist, artist, economist. '-er': teacher, programmer, plumber, firefighter, driver. '-or': doctor (from Latin), translator, contractor. '-ian': electrician, politician, librarian, musician. These suffixes can help you recognise or guess the meaning of unfamiliar job titles. Note: not all '-er' words are jobs (summer, butter), so context matters.
How do you write a job title on a CV in English?
Job titles on a CV are capitalised and written in the exact form used by employers: Software Engineer, Senior Project Manager, Head of Marketing. Avoid informal descriptions. Use action verbs to describe responsibilities: 'Managed a team of 12', 'Developed and implemented...', 'Led the project to completion within budget.' British CVs use 'curriculum vitae' or CV; American resumes use 'resume'.
What jobs vocabulary is used in IELTS Speaking Part 1?
Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions about work: 'Do you work or are you a student?', 'What is your job?', 'What does your job involve?', 'Do you enjoy your work?', 'Would you like to change your job?' Prepare vocabulary for: job title, main duties, workplace, colleagues, challenges, and aspects you enjoy. This vocabulary page plus our Business English page covers the most important terms for these questions.
What is the difference between a 'manager', 'supervisor', 'director', and 'executive'?
'Manager' oversees a team or department: 'the sales manager'. 'Supervisor' monitors workers and reports to management: 'the production supervisor'. 'Director' is a senior leader responsible for a major division or the whole company: 'Finance Director'. 'Executive' usually refers to a senior decision-maker: 'Chief Executive Officer (CEO)'. These titles reflect seniority and scope of responsibility in an organisation.