Product & UX

Accessibility Specialist

SOC 15-1255.00 · ESCO 2519 · OSCA 273239

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Role snapshot

Overview

Evaluates digital products to ensure they can be used by people with a wide range of abilities, testing with assistive technologies and auditing against established standards. Advocates for inclusive design practices and trains teams on how to build accessible experiences, playing a critical role in making technology universally usable.

Ensures digital products are inclusive and usable by everyone, including people with disabilities, which expands market reach, reduces legal risk, and promotes ethical design practices.

On the job

  • Conduct comprehensive accessibility audits of websites and applications against WCAG standards
  • Perform manual and automated testing using various assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, voice control, keyboard navigation)
  • Provide actionable recommendations and technical guidance to design and development teams for remediation
  • Develop and deliver training sessions on accessibility best practices and inclusive design principles
  • Stay up-to-date with evolving accessibility standards, guidelines, and emerging technologies
Accessibility Specialist at work

Tools & technology

JAWSNVDAVoiceOveraxe DevToolsLighthouseHTML/CSSJiraFigma

Average salary

$98K
MEDIAN SALARY Annual · USD
$70K Bottom 10%
$125K Top 10%

Job outlook

Growing

Job growth is expected to be above average over the next five years.

Education & training

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience Design, or a related field. Relevant certifications in accessibility are highly valued.

Career pathways

WHERE YOU COULD GO

Senior Accessibility Specialist
Accessibility Lead / Manager

CURRENT ROLE

Accessibility Specialist

Product & UX

ADJACENT MOVES

UX Researcher (Accessibility Focus)
Inclusive Design Strategist
Junior Accessibility Tester
Quality Assurance Analyst
Ux Designer
Front End Developer

STARTING POINTS

Who thrives here

Interest profile

I

investigative · ICA

People who enjoy analytical problem-solving, detailed investigation of standards, and collaborating to create inclusive solutions tend to thrive in this role.

Personality characteristics

Curious

Interested in exploring new technologies, understanding diverse user needs, and keeping up with evolving standards.

Detail-oriented

Meticulous in auditing digital products, ensuring compliance with complex accessibility guidelines.

Collaborative

Enjoys working with designers, developers, and product managers to integrate accessibility throughout the development lifecycle.

Advocate

Passionate about promoting inclusive design and educating others on the importance of accessibility.

Resilient

Able to navigate challenges in advocating for change and provide constructive feedback without being discouraged.

Best for

  • Individuals passionate about digital inclusion and making technology equitable for everyone.
  • Those who enjoy detailed technical analysis, problem-solving, and educating others.
  • Professionals who thrive in a collaborative environment, influencing design and development practices.

Watch out for

  • Requires continuous learning to keep up with rapidly evolving accessibility standards and technologies.
  • Can involve advocating for change, which sometimes requires patience and persistence with stakeholders.

A week in the life

A representative working week for a Accessibility Specialist — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.

8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm
Mon
Team stand-up and planning
Accessibility audit (web application)
Assistive technology testing (screen reader)
Documentation and report writing
Tue
Research new accessibility standards/tools
Consultation with UX designers on new feature
Accessibility audit (mobile app)
Review developer's accessibility fixes
Wed
Bi-weekly accessibility guild meeting
Prepare accessibility training materials
Deliver accessibility training for dev team
Follow-up on audit findings with product team
Thu
Manual keyboard and visual accessibility testing
Write technical accessibility specifications
Individual learning and professional development
Fri
One-on-one with manager / career development
Review incoming accessibility tickets and prioritize
Proactive design system accessibility review
Deep work Meeting External Social Admin

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