Life As an Interpreter or Translator
Career Description Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
What Do Interpreters and Translators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
- Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
- Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language.
- Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
- Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
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What an Interpreter or Translator Should Know
Interpreters and Translators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Other Interpreter or Translator Job Titles
- Superior Court Interpreter-Spanish/English
- Russian Language Interpreter and Translator
- Hourly Sign Language Interpreter
- Diplomatic Interpreter/Translator
- Staff Interpreter
Are There Job Opportunities for Interpreters and Translators?
In the United States, there were 68,200 jobs for Interpreter or Translator in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 17.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,100 new jobs for Interpreter or Translator by 2026. The BLS estimates 7,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Interpreter or Translator are Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Montana, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Interpreter or Translator Salary
The typical yearly salary for Interpreters and Translators is somewhere between $27,230 and $90,610.
Interpreters and Translators who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Interpreters and Translators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,510 |
| Alaska | $52,990 |
| Arizona | $46,100 |
| Arkansas | $34,260 |
| California | $58,180 |
| Colorado | $70,050 |
| Connecticut | $47,560 |
| Delaware | $53,860 |
| District of Columbia | $93,730 |
| Florida | $49,300 |
| Georgia | $55,670 |
| Hawaii | $45,580 |
| Idaho | $37,650 |
| Illinois | $46,320 |
| Indiana | $41,700 |
| Iowa | $37,840 |
| Kansas | $40,190 |
| Kentucky | $49,690 |
| Louisiana | $40,440 |
| Maine | $63,210 |
| Maryland | $70,530 |
| Massachusetts | $55,600 |
| Michigan | $41,450 |
| Minnesota | $52,730 |
| Mississippi | $52,110 |
| Missouri | $62,610 |
| Montana | $37,910 |
| Nebraska | $43,760 |
| Nevada | $52,150 |
| New Hampshire | $49,970 |
| New Jersey | $74,750 |
| New Mexico | $58,700 |
| New York | $68,940 |
| North Carolina | $59,310 |
| North Dakota | $35,250 |
| Ohio | $58,380 |
| Oklahoma | $35,240 |
| Oregon | $50,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,100 |
| Rhode Island | $50,380 |
| South Carolina | $44,950 |
| South Dakota | $37,650 |
| Tennessee | $43,550 |
| Texas | $58,650 |
| Utah | $43,830 |
| Vermont | $46,270 |
| Virginia | $70,770 |
| Washington | $48,560 |
| West Virginia | $38,590 |
| Wisconsin | $50,750 |
| Wyoming | $48,750 |
What Tools & Technology do Interpreters and Translators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Interpreters and Translators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
- Voice over internet protocol VoiP system software
Becoming an Interpreter or Translator
Are there Interpreters and Translators education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Interpreter or Translator?
Where Interpreters and Translators Work
Below are examples of industries where Interpreters and Translators work:
References:
Image Credit: Susana Freixeiro via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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