Are you wondering what are the translations of some of the most common occupations in Tagalog are? In today’s post, we will give you a glimpse of what the local job market is like in the Philippines and the common words and phrases related to this topic. So if you are looking for a quick way to describe your jobs when speaking with the locals, then you landed on the right post. Continue reading below to start learning.
Whether you are planning to travel, starting a business, or just learning the Tagalog language, you must understand the labor force dynamics. It bridges gaps and connects you to the local culture. So, let’s take this step by step. By the end of this, you’ll be more clued up, ready to strike up work-related conversations with the ease of a native.
5 Common Occupations In Tagalog
The jobs in the Philippines are mainly influenced by the types of international companies running in the country. However, based on recent reports, the sector that is gaining momentum is the service industry which is why there is a massive shift in the type of jobs the Filipinos take.
However, more often than not, traditional Filipino families raise their children intending to help them land the best opportunities in stable fields in various industries. So, instead of taking on an entrepreneurial stance, most locals focus more on developing themselves professionally to get to the peak of the corporate ladder. For this reason, it is not surprising to find Filipino workers who will willingly work as OFWs rather than take the risk and start a business.
1. Teacher – Guro
Also known as titser, maestro, or maestra, the education industry is so alive to the point that it has managed to attract over 900,000 teachers nationwide. During the onset of the pandemic, they proved to be instrumental in ensuring that the younger Filipinos will get to continue learning through different modalities.
2. Pilot – Piloto
Becoming an aircraft pilot is perhaps one of the greatest dreams of many. After all, who wouldn’t love to sit behind the controls and transport people and important cargo like a real pro, right? In the Philippines, the average salary of an Airline Pilot is around $ 2 million per year.
3. Lawyer – Abogado
While many aspire to become a lawyer in the country, only 20% of the examinees pass the board exam every year. Depending on where the lawyer is affiliated, the average salary per month can go anywhere between 40,000 PHP to as high as 80,000 PHP.
4. Engineer – Inhinyero
There are basically six main branches to engineering but no matter what field you are in, engineers are known to receive a monthly salary as high as 200,000 PHP! They play a significant role in pushing innovation and solving technical problems to help different industries reach new heights.
5. Nurse – Nars
If there is one career that is perhaps very Filipino, then that is being a nurse. In fact, several countries have branded the Philippines to be the top exporter of highly qualified nurses. But, unfortunately, most of the nurses have no choice but to go overseas in search of a better pay rate since the average monthly salary is only 9,757 PHP.
Other Occupations In Tagalog Language
Of course, there are other occupations that you can choose from. In the table below, you will see the translated word for every common job in the country. Please note that our focus here is on the traditional jobs that have translations. For newer jobs like programmers or gamers, there are no available translations yet. So instead, the locals use the English version of the words when discussing there.
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| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Farmer | Magsasaka |
| Designer | Ilustrador |
| Pharmacist | Parmasis |
| Plumber | Tubero |
| Poet | Makata |
| Writer | Manunulat |
| Storyteller | Kwentista |
| Mechanic | Mekaniko |
| Barber | Barbero |
| Beautician | Beautician |
| Shoemaker | Sapatero |
| Clerk | Klerk |
| Gardener | Hardinero |
| Sales person | Ahente |
| Waiter | Weyter |
| Chef | Tagaluto |
| Policeman | Pulis |
| Doctor | Duktor |
| Office worker | Nagtatrabaho sa Opisina |
| Veterinarian | Beterinaryo |
| Architect | Arkitekto |
| Painter | Pintor |
| Artist | Artista |
| Translator | Tagasalin |
| Driver | Drayber |
| Condutor | Konduktor |
| Musician | Musikero |
| Cashier | Kahera |
| Secretary | Sekretarya |
| Doktor | Tagalinis |
Vocabulary Related To Occupations In Tagalog
Interested in joining conversations related to one’s occupation? If you are, then you have to learn some of the most common words to use when speaking with the locals. Current, everyday terminology can be the bridge that connects you with native Tagalog speakers. It sparks mutual understanding and breaks the ice by allowing you to engage in a variety of different topics, including occupations in Tagalog.
For starters, get to know the related words regarding work and occupation in the table below. These commonly used terms will provide a solid foundation for your efforts in broadening your vocabulary in the Tagalog language.
| English | Tagalog Word |
|---|---|
| Tourism | Turismo |
| Manufacturing | Pagmamanupaktura |
| Agriculture | Agrikultura |
| Construction | Konstraksyon |
| Business | Negosyo |
| Salary | Sahod / Sweldo |
| Boss / Employer | Amo |
| Employee | Empleado |
| Company | Kumpanya |
| Laborer | Trabahador |
| Industry | Industriya |
| Task | Gawain |
| Duty | Tungkulin |
| Overtime | Obertaym (transliteration) |
| Work hours | Oras ng trabaho |
| Manager | Manedyer |
| Overseer | Tagapangasiwa |
| Deadline | Dédlayn (transliteration) |
| Deduction | Bawas |
| Benefits | Benepisyo |
| Feedback | Puna |
| Comment | Komento |
| Signature | Lagda / Pirma |
| Service | Serbisyo |
| Recognition | Pagkilala |
| Leave | Liban |
| Incentive | Insentibo |
| Complaints | Mga reklamo / daing / sumbong |
| Evaluation | Pagsusuri |
| Report | Ulat |
Practice Pronouncing These Tagalog Occupations!
Now that we have an idea of the words to use when describing our jobs, we can now easily express and introduce ourselves better. To help you further, here’s a quick video to guide you in pronouncing these terms accurately, adding another step on your path to fluency in Tagalog.
And there we have it! Which of those is your job? Let us know in the comment section below. If you are looking for a translation that we have not added here yet, feel free to type it in the comment section, and we’d be glad to provide you with the correct Tagalog word for it.
