Lexicographer
Key facts
Lexicographers write and compile the content for dictionaries. They also determine which new words are common use and should be included in the glossary.
Lexicographers are the wordsmiths behind dictionaries and glossaries. Your days involve researching language usage, analyzing new words and phrases, and meticulously crafting definitions. It’s a role that combines linguistic expertise with analytical skills, contributing to a vital resource used by millions.
- • Researching current language use through various sources like books, articles, and online platforms.
- • Evaluating new words and phrases to determine their suitability for inclusion in a dictionary.
- • Writing clear, accurate, and concise definitions for words and phrases.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Denmark, Italy.
Longest-running shortage: Sweden, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $76,910 2025-05 | +3.6% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +15.9% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
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Future Outlook for lexicographer
The outlook for lexicographer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could lexicographer change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- follow work schedule
Where AI may become a co-pilot
Limited AI co-pilot overlap right now.
Tasks most exposed to automation
- consult information sources
- search databases
- apply grammar and spelling rules
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a lexicographer
09 09:00 · Morning follow work schedule
10 10:30 · Mid-morning create definitions
12 12:00 · Midday apply grammar and spelling rules
14 14:00 · Afternoon consult information sources
15 15:30 · Late afternoon search databases
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
-
apply grammar and spelling rules
Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
-
create definitions
Create clear definitions for words and concepts. Make sure they convey the exact meaning of the words.
-
follow work schedule
Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
-
consult information sources
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
-
search databases
Search for information or people using databases.
search engines
The methods and techniques to navigate search engines and find information quickly.
- copyright legislation
- grammar
- linguistics
- practical lexicography
- scientific research methodology
- spelling
- project management principles
- theoretical lexicography
Path to become a lexicographer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
79 programmes in 10 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 7 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen · the Netherlands
These are 3 of 86.
Sources
- 1. Bron: DUO open onderwijsdata
- 2. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does lexicographer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of educational background is typically needed to become a lexicographer?
How do lexicographers identify 'new' words to include in a dictionary?
Is this a career that typically involves working independently, or as part of a team?
Is there a shortage of Lexicographer in Europe?
How much does Lexicographer pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data