Accessibility Consultant

Impact: User experience, Legal compliance, Social equity

Evaluates and advises on the accessibility of digital products and physical environments to ensure compliance with standards and enhance user experience for individuals with disabilities.

In their words

Being an Accessibility Consultant means constantly learning and advocating. You're not just checking boxes; you're ensuring everyone can use technology. It's rewarding but can be challenging to shift mindsets and integrate accessibility early in development cycles. Strong communication is key to bridge the gap between technical requirements and user needs. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a real difference.

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What the day looks like

People interaction
Moderate
Team vs solo
60% Team / 40% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
High
Travel
10-20% domestic
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
40 hours/week
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$95,000
Entry-level
$60,000 - $80,000
Senior
$120,000+
Growth by 2033
12% (faster than average)
Demand
Growing Fast
Freelance potential
High
Salary growth potential
High 70-100% growth from entry to senior
Typical student debt
$20,000 - $40,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • WCAG
  • ADA
  • Section 508
  • Assistive Technologies
  • Usability Testing
  • HTML/CSS
  • JavaScript

Soft skills

  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Empathy
  • Attention to Detail
  • Collaboration

Technical complexity: High

Tools you'll work with

Core tools

  • WCAG 2.1/2.2 (standard): Primary accessibility guidelines
  • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) (standard): Legal framework for accessibility
  • Section 508 (standard): US federal accessibility standard

Common tools

  • JAWS (software): Screen reader for Windows
  • NVDA (software): Free open-source screen reader
  • Axe DevTools (software): Automated accessibility testing tool
  • Colour Contrast Analyser (software): Checks color contrast ratios
  • HTML/CSS (language): Web development foundational languages
  • JavaScript (language): Interactive web development

How to get there

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
3-5 years
Years to senior
7-10 years
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • UX Designer: Transitioning from general user experience design with a focus on inclusive design principles.
  • Quality Assurance Engineer: Moving from software testing to specialized accessibility testing and compliance.
  • Technical Writer: Leveraging documentation skills to create accessible content and guidelines.

Where you can go from here

  • Senior UX Researcher: Advancing to a research role with a strong emphasis on inclusive research methodologies.
  • Product Manager (Accessibility Focus): Leading product development with a specialization in ensuring accessibility throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Accessibility Engineer: Transitioning to a more hands-on development role focused on implementing accessible solutions.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Accessibility Consultant > Accessibility Consultant > Senior Accessibility Consultant > Lead Accessibility Consultant

Future outlook

Automation probability
15% low risk
AI disruption risk
Low
Demand trend
Growing Fast

How people feel about it

Overall satisfaction
8/10
Meaning
8.5/10
Work-life balance
7/10
Prestige
7.5/10
Social perception
High

Find your community

Professional organisations

Online communities

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