Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Interpreters and Translators
Interpreters and Translators interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Table of contents
What they do
Interpreters and Translators interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers’ statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Interpreters and Translators translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible. They follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Listen to speakers’ statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.
- Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on the intended audience.
- Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Interpreters and Translators also compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material. They may also check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Interpreters and Translators educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters. They might also adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
In addition, they refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
To some Interpreters and Translators, it is also their responsibility to check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
72% said they were satisfied with their job and 76% said they found their job meaningful.
I got into translation work last spring, almost a year now, because of the pandemic. I’ve worked in marketing for a long time, although it was largely in the events business. So I switched my services over to help a different demographic, and now translate locally into and from Spanish and English. A normal interpreting … Read More
I deal with the English–Japanese language pair. The greatest challenge in my translation work from Japanese to English is figuring out what they’re “really saying” and then putting it in a variety of ways depending on the intended audience. Japanese famously relies on inference and subtle suggestion rather than going straight to the point. English … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Salary is below average.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Interpreters and Translators with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $29,740 to $38,410 per year or $14 to $18 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $96,480 | $46 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $72,630 | $35 |
| Median | $52,330 | $25 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $38,410 | $18 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $29,740 | $14 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Interpreters and Translators based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | $87410 | $42.03 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $77010 | $37.03 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $71460 | $34.36 |
| Junior Colleges | $69480 | $33.40 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $67980 | $32.68 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $64720 | $31.11 |
| Employment Services | $64670 | $31.09 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $64000 | $30.77 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $63150 | $30.36 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $63070 | $30.32 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Interpreters and Translators work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Interpreters and Translators including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 23300 | $63070 | $30.32 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 8970 | $49480 | $23.79 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 5540 | $55160 | $26.52 |
| Local Government | 2280 | $56850 | $27.33 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 1950 | $71460 | $34.36 |
| Junior Colleges | 1520 | $69480 | $33.40 |
| Individual and Family Services | 1490 | $49560 | $23.83 |
| State Government | 1460 | $60360 | $29.02 |
| Offices of Physicians | 1140 | $43930 | $21.12 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 720 | $49450 | $23.78 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
History and Language/Literature
Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
Court Interpreter
Armenian Language and Literature
Sign Language Interpretation and Translation
Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages
American Sign Language (ASL)
Mongolian Language and Literature
Hungarian/Magyar Language and Literature
Uralic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Turkish Language and Literature
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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