There is a study that points to an unexpected advantage for those who preserve Portuguese in descending generations. Between 2018 and 2022, Portuguese speakers recorded a median annual salary of $58,923 (around €50,923), compared to $54,046 (around €46,708) for non-speakers and $46,762 (around €40,413) for the national average.
The source and report
According to Executive Digest, a Portuguese magazine specializing in management, innovation and economics, the report An American Dream in Portuguese: Second Generation and Beyond, by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), reveals that mastery of Portuguese translates into a clear economic advantage in the job market.
Language and income
The study shows that this salary difference remains even among those who did not complete higher education.
For graduates, the direct influence of Portuguese is less pronounced because the type of occupation assumes greater weight in salaries. In particular, non-routine and specialized roles tend to be the best paying, regardless of language.
Identity and community
Researchers Alda Botelho Azevedo and Lara Patrício Tavares highlight that the Portuguese language continues to function as an element of identity and cohesion.
According to the same source, preserving the language does not cause a separation from Portugal, but rather reinforces a symbolic connection to its origins while full integration into local society continues.
Female dynamism
The stronger presence of women in the job market among Portuguese descendants is another relevant fact. The higher rate of female employment contributes significantly to the aggregate household income and the economic performance of the community.
Where is the living language
Geographically, the Portuguese presence remains concentrated along traditional immigration routes. New England is home to 311,000 residents of Portuguese origin, with 16% still speaking Portuguese. California has 278 thousand, of which 8% are speakers.
New York and New Jersey have the highest proportion of speakers, 34%, and it is in these places that an association between mastery of Portuguese, greater professional qualifications and higher salaries is noted. Not all states follow the same pattern: in Hawaii, for example, speakers earn lower incomes than non-speakers.
Renewal and choice
Between 2018 and 2022 there were 1,138,117 Portuguese-Americans born in the United States over the age of five, of which 156,358 spoke Portuguese. According to Executive Digest, the number of speakers grew by 16% compared to the previous period while non-speakers registered a drop of 1%, signaling a generational renewal.
A choice with consequences
Speakers tend to be younger, 39 years old, on average, among men and 42 years old among women, compared to 43 and 44 years old for non-speakers. Speaking Portuguese thus appears as an identity option that can translate into professional opportunities and, in some cases, facilitate access to Portuguese citizenship through ancestry.
The report concludes that this “American dream in Portuguese” is simultaneously an economic advantage and a way to renew the community’s cultural presence, according to .
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