Career Overview
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Also Known As
- Interpreter
- Medical Interpreter
- Sign Language Interpreter
- Translator
Alternate Job Titles
- American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter)
- Arabic Translator
- Bilingual Interpreter
- Bilingual Secretary
- Braille Transcriber
- Braille Translator
- Community Interpreter
- Contract Translator
- Court Interpreter
- Cryptologic Linguist
- Deaf Interpreter
- Diplomatic Interpreter
- Educational Interpreter
- English Translator
- Farsi Linguist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Foreign Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Achievement
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Compact binoculars
- Desktop computers
- Digital audio recorders
- FM transmission equipment
- Headsets
- Infrared transmission equipment
- Interpreter consoles
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Portable calculators
- Tablet computers
- Tie clip microphones
Work Environment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $35,630 |
| Median | $59,440 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $99,830 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 53,360
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Speech-Language Pathologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $95,410
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $77,010
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $46,050
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $59,950
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $78,270
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.