Interpreters and Translators
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Also called: American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter) · Court Interpreter · Educational Interpreter · Interpreter · Linguist · Medical Interpreter
Median pay (national)
$59,440
$35,630–$99,830 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
53,360
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.7%
~6,900 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for interpreters and translators shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $99,830 versus $35,630 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $59,440 leaves roughly 68% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.7% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 6,900 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 51 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $84,650, +42% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $43,410 — a 95% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Productivity software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
- Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
- Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
- Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Productivity software
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- AceTools.biz Ace Translator
- Adapt It
- AmoK Translator
- Ashkon Translation Pad
- Babylon Online Translator
- DocTranslate
- Electronic dictionaries
- ExcelTrans Translator
- Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML
- Google Translate Client
- HunterSoft Business Translator
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Foreign Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Administrative
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics