Are Job Titles Capitalized? Complete Grammar Guide [2025]

TL;DR: When to Capitalize Job Titles

Job titles are capitalized when they appear directly before a person's name (President Biden) or in formal contexts like signatures and official titles. They are lowercase when used generically or after a name (Joe Biden, the president). The key rule: capitalize when the title is part of someone's formal name; use lowercase when describing a role generally.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Before a name: Always capitalize ("Marketing Director Sarah Chen")

2. After a name: Usually lowercase ("Sarah Chen, marketing director")

3. Standing alone: Lowercase when generic ("the marketing director attended")

4. Formal documents: Capitalize in signatures, letterheads, and official correspondence

5. Resumes/LinkedIn: Capitalize for emphasis and professional presentation

Are Job Titles Capitalized? The Complete Guide

Whether you're writing a professional cover letter, updating your resume, or crafting business correspondence, knowing when to capitalize job titles is essential for polished, professional writing. Get it wrong, and you risk appearing careless or unprofessional to potential employers and colleagues.

This comprehensive guide covers every scenario where job title capitalization matters—from formal documents to social media profiles, from academic papers to email signatures. By the end, you'll have clear rules you can apply confidently in any situation.

Understanding these rules is particularly important when addressing hiring managers in cover letters or introducing yourself professionally. Let's dive into the rules.

The Basic Rule: Context Determines Capitalization

The fundamental principle for job title capitalization is context-dependent. Here's the core rule:

• Capitalize when the job title is used as part of someone's name or formal title

• Lowercase when the job title is used descriptively or generically

This rule applies across all style guides (AP, Chicago, APA, MLA), though there are some variations in specific applications that we'll cover below.

Job Title Capitalization: Quick Reference Table

Detailed Rules for Capitalizing Job Titles

Rule 1: Capitalize Job Titles Before Names

When a job title immediately precedes a person's name and functions as part of their formal title, capitalize it:

Correct Examples:

• Chief Executive Officer Maria Rodriguez will speak at noon.

• Please welcome Professor David Kim.

• The award was presented by Director of Marketing Emily Watson.

• Senior Vice President Michael Chen approved the budget.

• According to Human Resources Manager Lisa Park, applications close Friday.

This rule applies when the title and name are used together as a unit. The title effectively becomes part of the person's formal designation.

Rule 2: Lowercase Job Titles After Names

When a job title follows a person's name (usually set off by a comma), use lowercase:

Correct Examples:

• Maria Rodriguez, chief executive officer, will speak at noon.

• The presentation was led by David Kim, professor of economics.

• Emily Watson, director of marketing, announced the campaign.

• I spoke with Michael Chen, senior vice president at Acme Corp.

• According to Lisa Park, human resources manager, the policy changes next month.

In these cases, the job title is functioning as a descriptor rather than as part of the person's formal name.

Rule 3: Lowercase Generic Job Title References

When referring to a job title generally—not as part of someone's specific title—use lowercase:

Correct Examples:

• The company is hiring a marketing director.

• All managers should attend the meeting.

• She wants to become an engineer.

• The accountant prepared the reports.

• We need a new software developer on the team.

Here, you're discussing the role generically, not a specific person holding that role as their official title.

Rule 4: Capitalize in Direct Address

When using a job title in place of someone's name (direct address), capitalize it:

Correct Examples:

• "Thank you, Professor, for your guidance."

• "Doctor, when should I schedule a follow-up?"

• "Good morning, Senator."

• "Excuse me, Officer, I have a question."

• "Thank you for your time, Director."

In direct address, the title functions as a substitute for the person's name, warranting capitalization.

Job Title Capitalization in Professional Documents

Different professional documents have specific conventions for job title capitalization. Understanding these will help you format your cover letter correctly and present yourself professionally.

Cover Letters

In cover letters, follow these capitalization guidelines:

For guidance on addressing cover letters properly, see our guides on how to address someone in a cover letter and addressing a cover letter with a name.

Resumes and CVs

Resume and CV conventions typically capitalize all job titles for clarity and emphasis:

• Job titles in experience section: Capitalize ("Marketing Manager, Acme Corp")

• Target position: Capitalize ("Objective: Marketing Director position")

• Skills referring to roles: Typically capitalize for consistency

This is a stylistic convention for resumes—the capitalization helps hiring managers quickly scan and identify your positions. For more on resume content, see our guide on resume objective examples.

"In resumes, consistency matters more than strict adherence to grammar rules. If you capitalize one job title, capitalize them all. Inconsistency suggests carelessness—exactly what you don't want employers to think." — Amanda Augustine, Career Expert at TopResume

LinkedIn Profiles

LinkedIn follows similar conventions to resumes:

• Headline: Capitalize your title ("Senior Software Engineer at Google")

• Experience entries: Capitalize job titles

• About section: Follow standard writing rules (capitalize before names, lowercase generic)

• Recommendations: Follow standard writing rules

Email Signatures

In email signatures and professional emails, capitalize your job title as part of your formal sign-off:

Example Email Signature:

Best regards,

Sarah Johnson

Director of Customer Success

Acme Corporation

For more on professional email conventions, see our guides on email subject lines and how to end an email.

Business Cards and Letterheads

Always capitalize job titles on:

• Business cards

• Company letterhead

• Official stationery

• Name badges and plates

• Company directories

These are formal presentations of your professional identity, warranting full capitalization.

Common Job Titles: Capitalization Examples

Here's a comprehensive reference for commonly used job titles across various industries:

Executive and Leadership Titles

Management Titles

Professional and Technical Titles

Academic and Medical Titles

Academic and medical titles often follow special conventions:

• Professor: Always capitalize when used as a title before a name (Professor Smith)

• Doctor/Dr.: Capitalize when used as a title (Doctor Johnson, Dr. Lee)

• Dean: Capitalize before name (Dean Williams)

• Departments: Lowercase (professor of biology, chair of the English department)

"Academic titles carry particular weight in professional settings. Using proper capitalization demonstrates respect for academic credentials and attention to professional conventions." — Dr. Patricia Roberts, Professor of Professional Communication, Columbia University

Style Guide Comparison: AP vs. Chicago vs. APA

Different style guides have slightly varying approaches to job title capitalization. Here's how the major guides compare:

AP Style Nuance:

AP Style recommends lowercasing very long titles even before names. For example:

• "president and chief executive officer John Smith" (AP prefers this)

• vs. "President and Chief Executive Officer John Smith" (acceptable in other guides)

For professional documents like cover letters, the more formal approach (capitalizing before names) is generally safest.

Special Cases and Exceptions

Government and Military Titles

Government and military titles follow stricter capitalization rules due to their formal nature:

• President: Capitalize when referring to the President of the United States, even without a name

• Senator/Representative: Capitalize before names (Senator Warren)

• Military ranks: Capitalize before names (General Powell)

• Judge: Capitalize before names and in direct address (Judge Roberts, "Yes, Your Honor")

• Governor/Mayor: Capitalize before names (Governor Newsom, Mayor Adams)

Religious Titles

Religious titles follow similar patterns to government titles:

• Pope Francis (capitalize)

• Rabbi Cohen (capitalize)

• Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. (capitalize)

• the pastor gave a sermon (lowercase generic)

Abbreviated Titles

When job titles are abbreviated, maintain capitalization consistent with the full title:

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer) — capitalize

• VP of Sales (Vice President of Sales) — capitalize VP, lowercase "of"

• Sr. Manager (Senior Manager) — capitalize

• Asst. Director (Assistant Director) — capitalize

Compound and Hyphenated Titles

For compound titles, capitalize the major words:

• Editor-in-Chief Sarah Jones

• Commander-in-Chief

• Secretary-Treasurer

• Vice President-elect

• Co-founder and CEO

"Former" and "Acting" Titles

When using modifiers like "former" or "acting" with titles:

• former President Obama ("former" lowercase, "President" capitalized)

• Acting Director James Chen (both words capitalized as part of formal title)

• the former ceo attended (both lowercase when generic)

Industry-Specific Capitalization Guidelines

Technology and Startups

Tech companies often have unique titles that follow standard rules:

• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

• Head of Product

• Full-Stack Developer

• Scrum Master

• DevOps Engineer

For tech industry cover letters, see our guide on the best AI cover letter generator for tech jobs.

Healthcare

Healthcare titles often include credentials:

• Dr. Jane Smith, MD (both title and credentials capitalized)

• Nurse Practitioner Williams

• Chief Medical Officer

• Director of Nursing

• Physical Therapist Johnson

For nursing-specific guidance, see our nursing cover letter examples.

Education

Education titles can be tricky:

• Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor — capitalize before names

• Principal Johnson

• Superintendent Davis

• Department Chair (capitalize as title before name)

• the English teacher said (lowercase generic)

For teaching positions, see our teacher cover letter examples and cover letter for teaching job guides.

Creative and Media

Creative industries have their own conventions:

• Creative Director Chen

• Executive Producer

• Art Director

• Senior Copywriter

• the graphic designer submitted (lowercase)

For creative roles, see our cover letter examples for graphic designers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these frequent errors in job title capitalization:

Mistake 1: Capitalizing Every Job Title

Incorrect: "I want to become a Marketing Manager because I love Marketing."
Correct: "I want to become a marketing manager because I love marketing."

Job titles used generically should be lowercase.

Mistake 2: Inconsistent Capitalization

Incorrect: "The Marketing director spoke with our Senior analyst."
Correct: "The marketing director spoke with our senior analyst."

Be consistent—if using generically, lowercase all titles in the sentence.

Mistake 3: Capitalizing Job Descriptions

Incorrect: "She works in Human Resources."
Correct: "She works in human resources."

Departments and functions are typically lowercase unless part of a formal name.

Mistake 4: Overcapitalizing in Emails

Incorrect: "I'm reaching out as the Senior Marketing Manager to discuss..."
Correct: "I'm reaching out as the senior marketing manager to discuss..."

In email body text, follow standard rules—capitalize only before names.

Mistake 5: Undercapitalizing Formal Titles

Incorrect: "Dear hiring manager,"
Correct: "Dear Hiring Manager,"

In direct address (salutations), capitalize the title. For more on salutations, see our guides on to whom it may concern and dear sir or madam alternatives.

Decision Guide: Should I Capitalize This Job Title?

Use this decision guide when you're unsure about capitalization:

1. Is the title immediately before a person's name? → YES = Capitalize

2. Are you using direct address (replacing name with title)? → YES = Capitalize

3. Is this a formal document (resume, signature, business card)? → YES = Capitalize

4. Does the title follow the person's name? → YES = Lowercase

5. Are you referring to the job role generically? → YES = Lowercase

6. Is this running text discussing someone's position? → YES = Usually lowercase

Job Titles in Digital Contexts

Email Subject Lines

In email subject lines, capitalize job titles for clarity and formality:

• "Application for Marketing Director Position" — capitalize

• "Meeting Request from Sales Manager John Doe" — capitalize

• "Follow-up: Senior Developer Interview" — capitalize

Social Media Posts

Social media conventions vary by platform:

• LinkedIn: Formal; capitalize job titles

• Twitter/X: More casual; follow standard rules

• Company posts: Usually capitalize for professionalism

Job Postings and Descriptions

In job postings, capitalize the title being advertised:

• "Now Hiring: Senior Software Engineer"

• "Open Position: Marketing Director"

• "We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our team." (capitalize as title of posted position)

How AI Writing Tools Handle Job Title Capitalization

Modern AI cover letter generators and writing assistants can help with proper capitalization, but it's important to review their output.

When Using AI Tools:

• Most AI tools apply standard capitalization rules correctly

• Review AI output for context-specific adjustments

• Ensure consistency throughout your document

• Override AI suggestions when they don't match your style guide

Tools like ChatGPT for cover letters generally follow Chicago style by default. Our AI cover letter generator applies professional conventions automatically.

"AI writing tools have become remarkably good at understanding capitalization context, but human review remains essential. Style guides evolve, and professional contexts vary—always give your documents a final check." — Sarah Mitchell, Senior Editor, Grammarly

International Considerations

Capitalization rules can vary between English-speaking countries:

US vs. UK English

Generally, job title capitalization follows the same rules in US and UK English. The main rules (capitalize before names, lowercase generic references) apply universally.

Multinational Companies

When writing for international audiences:

• Follow the company's established style guide if available

• Default to more formal capitalization when unsure

• Maintain consistency within your document

• Consider your audience's expectations

For UK-specific guidance, see our guide on how to start a cover letter UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I capitalize my job title in my email signature?

Yes. Email signatures are formal presentations of your professional identity, so capitalize your job title. Example: "John Smith, Marketing Director" — both name and title capitalized.

Do I capitalize job titles on my resume?

Yes. By convention, resumes capitalize job titles in the experience section for clarity and scannability. This helps hiring managers quickly identify your positions. Be consistent throughout.

Should "hiring manager" be capitalized in a cover letter?

In the salutation ("Dear Hiring Manager"), yes—capitalize because you're using it as a direct address. In the body text ("I'm writing to the hiring manager"), use lowercase.

Do I capitalize job titles after someone's name?

Generally no. When a title follows a name and is set off by commas, use lowercase: "Sarah Chen, marketing director, announced the news." The title is functioning as a description, not part of her formal name.

What about company-specific titles like "Googler" or "Amazonian"?

Company-specific informal titles are typically capitalized as they're derived from proper nouns (the company names). However, follow the company's own usage when known.

Should I capitalize "the" before a title?

No. Articles ("the," "a," "an") before job titles are lowercase: "I spoke with the marketing director." Exception: Some high offices capitalize "The" (The President of the United States).

How do I handle hyphenated job titles?

Capitalize the major words in hyphenated titles: "Editor-in-Chief," "Vice-President," "Secretary-Treasurer." Minor words like "in" and "of" are typically lowercase.

Is "CEO" always capitalized?

The abbreviation "CEO" is typically capitalized because it's an acronym representing a formal title. When written out, follow standard rules: "CEO John Smith" (capitalize) vs. "the company's chief executive officer said" (lowercase).

What about job titles in bullet points?

In bulleted lists on resumes or professional documents, capitalize job titles for consistency and readability. In narrative bullet points, follow standard rules based on context.

Should I capitalize job titles in a reference letter?

Follow the same rules as other professional documents. When the title precedes a name or is used in formal capacity, capitalize. When used generically, use lowercase.

How do style guides differ on job title capitalization?

All major style guides agree on the basic rules (capitalize before names, lowercase generic). AP Style is slightly stricter about lowercasing very long titles. Chicago allows more flexibility in formal contexts. For professional documents, err on the side of formality.

What if I'm unsure about capitalization?

When in doubt, ask: "Am I using this title as part of someone's formal designation or just describing their role?" If it's formal, capitalize. If descriptive, use lowercase. When still unsure, the more formal option (capitalizing) is usually safer in professional contexts.

Conclusion: Mastering Job Title Capitalization

Proper job title capitalization demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail—qualities that matter in every professional interaction. The rules are straightforward once you understand them:

• Capitalize when the title precedes a name or in formal documents (signatures, resumes, business cards)

• Lowercase when the title follows a name or is used generically

• Be consistent within each document

• When unsure, choose the more formal option

These rules apply whether you're writing a cover letter, updating your LinkedIn, or sending a professional email. Consistent, correct capitalization helps you make the right impression on potential employers, colleagues, and professional contacts.

Ready to put these rules into practice? Try our AI cover letter generator to create professionally formatted documents that follow all the right conventions. For more tips on professional writing, explore our guides on how to start a cover letter, how to end a cover letter, and how to make your cover letter stand out.