Active Listening Skills and Careers

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

910 occupations report this skill · Category: Essential Skills · O*NET element 2.A.1.b

Occupations reporting Active Listening

Importance and level are O*NET scale values. Ordered by reported importance. A skill rating does not indicate hiring outcomes.

Occupation	Importance	Level	National median wage
Medical Assistants	3.9	3.9	$45,690
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	3.9	4.0	$55,090
Chemical Technicians	3.9	3.9	$60,390
Occupational Therapy Assistants	3.9	3.9	$72,300
Biological Technicians	3.9	4.0	$57,510
Video Game Designers	3.9	3.9	$104,000
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	3.9	4.0	$104,300
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products	3.9	3.9	—
Home Health Aides	3.9	3.6	—
Opticians, Dispensing	3.9	4.0	$47,260
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	3.9	4.0	$122,570
Hydrologists	3.9	4.1	$96,600
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	3.9	4.3	$101,920
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers	3.9	4.0	$141,900
Environmental Restoration Planners	3.9	4.1	$82,220
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	3.9	4.0	$64,400
Hearing Aid Specialists	3.9	3.9	$65,160
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	3.9	4.0	$89,900
Foresters	3.9	4.0	$76,400
Park Naturalists	3.9	4.0	$73,010
Spa Managers	3.9	3.8	$69,770
Conservation Scientists	3.9	3.8	$73,010
Compliance Managers	3.9	4.1	$141,900
Microbiologists	3.9	4.1	$87,990
Tax Preparers	3.9	4.0	$54,920
Soil and Plant Scientists	3.9	4.1	$78,850
Food Scientists and Technologists	3.9	4.1	$88,720
Animal Scientists	3.9	4.0	$68,940
Credit Counselors	3.9	4.0	$52,230
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists	3.9	4.0	$50,290
Choreographers	3.9	3.9	$55,310
Clinical Nurse Specialists	3.9	4.1	$97,550
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	3.9	3.9	$66,120
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians	3.9	4.0	$59,920
Funeral Home Managers	3.9	3.9	$78,790
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	3.9	4.0	—
Music Directors and Composers	3.9	3.6	$73,710
Social and Community Service Managers	3.9	4.3	$80,390
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	3.9	4.0	$69,990
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	3.9	3.9	$107,230
Acupuncturists	3.9	4.1	$76,040
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	3.9	3.9	$74,310
Nanosystems Engineers	3.9	3.9	$122,930
Floral Designers	3.9	3.3	$37,360
Fashion Designers	3.9	3.9	$80,960
Robotics Engineers	3.9	4.0	$122,930
Special Effects Artists and Animators	3.9	3.9	$102,030
Sustainability Specialists	3.9	4.0	$83,050
Actors	3.9	3.8	—
Petroleum Engineers	3.9	4.0	$144,910

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.