Interpreters and Translators

Career summary

This description includes people who work as court, social service, and medical interpreters.

Interpreters work with live speech, translators with written language. They must be fluent in at least two languages.

Interpreters

Interpreters may interpret consecutively, which means they wait for the speaker to pause. They may also interpret simultaneously, which means they translate while the speaker talks.

Simultaneous translating is required for international conferences or in court. Interpreters at the United Nations often work in glass booths and speak into microphones. Delegates tune in the interpreter who is speaking the language they understand.

Sign language interpreters translate spoken language into hand signals for people who are hearing impaired.

Court interpreters work in courtrooms. They translate testimony for defendants who do not understand the local language. They also work with attorneys while they meet with clients or take testimony.

Translators

Translators work with written text. Translators read texts and rewrite them in the specified language. Literary translators work closely with authors when they can.

Legal translators rewrite legal documents, such as laws. Translators of scientific material work with very technical language. They usually have a background in the subjects they translate.

Related careers

This career is part of the Education and Training cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Elementary School Teachers
• Foreign Service Officers
• High School Teachers
• Librarians
• Middle School Teachers
• News Reporters
• Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
• Recreation Guides
• Teacher Aides
• Tour Guides
• Writers

Military careers

• Interpreters and Translators

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to interpreters and translators.

• Protect the confidentiality of information.
• May interpret simultaneously (while speaker talks) or consecutively (when speaker pauses).
• Listen to speaker to determine meaning and to remember what is said.
• Convert speaker's meaning into another language. Use a spoken language for those who can hear or hand signals for the hearing impaired.
• Interpret questions from second language to first. Interpret responses from first language to second.
• Review information on topic to be discussed before the interpreting session.
• Read written material in original language.
• Rewrite material into specified language, using established rules of grammar.
• Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meaning of words.
• Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
• Use reference materials to check translations.
• Confer with authors and other translators.
• Adapt translations to specific grade and ability levels.
• May travel with or speak in front of tour groups.

Common work activities

Interpreters and translators perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Get information needed to do the job
• Perform for or work with the public
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Process information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Document and record information
• Think creatively
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Assist and care for others
• Use computers
• Schedule work and activities
• Analyze data or information
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Evaluate information against standards
• Coach others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, interpreters and translators:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with the people they translate for.
• Almost always work as part of a team.
• Communicate most by phone, e-mail, and in person.
• May sometimes deal with conflict situations.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors.
• May work outdoors in some situations, such as when working as tour guides.
• Often share work space with others.
• Are sometimes exposed to the diseases and infections of clients.
• May sometimes work in a noisy environment.

Work performance

• Must be very exact and include all details in their translations.
• Repeat the same mental activities.
• Make some decisions without consulting others. However, they regularly seek advice from other interpreters, translators, and supervisors.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines.
• Make decisions that greatly impact their clients as well as their own professional reputations.
• Sometimes are able to set daily tasks and goals independently, but often do this in conjunction with clients.

Hours/travel

• May work part time or full time.
• May work irregular hours.
• May travel for long periods of time or work in other countries.

Physical demands

Interpreters and translators frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for interpreters and translators to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for interpreters and translators to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Interpreters and translators need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• American Sign Language
• Arabic Language and Literature
• Biblical Language and Literature
• Central and Eastern Asian Languages and Literature
• Central and Eastern European Languages and Literature
• Chinese Language and Literature
• Classical Languages and Literature
• English Language and Literature
• French Language and Literature
• German Language and Literature
• Hebrew Language and Literature
• Italian Language and Literature
• Japanese Language and Literature
• Language Interpretation and Translation
• Modern Greek Language and Literature
• Native American Language and Literature
• Portuguese Language and Literature
• Romance Language and Literature
• Russian Language and Literature
• Scandinavian Language and Literature
• South and Southeast Asian Languages and Literature
• Spanish Language and Literature

Other programs of study to consider

• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• International Studies
• Linguistics
• Second Language, General
• Special Education

Training

To work as an interpreter or translator, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have a bachelor's degree.

Education after high school

Interpreters and translators typically need a bachelor's degree. However, the most important requirement is that you be fluent in one or more languages besides your native language. You also need to know the culture and customs where these languages are spoken. In addition, you must be very skilled with your native language.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in foreign languages. Some offer certificates or degrees in interpreting and translating. A few programs have specialized courses, such as medical or legal translation. Language programs include courses in literature and cultural studies. Some programs offer exchange programs with other countries.

Many community and four-year colleges offer certificate programs or associate degrees in American Sign Language interpretation.

Work experience

Experience in one of the settings where translation is important is beneficial. Interpreters and translators often work with information about law, medicine, education, business, or diplomacy. Many employers seek interpreters and translators with a few years of work experience in these areas.

On-the-job training

Interpreters and translators working in the community as court or medical interpreters or translators are more likely to complete job-specific training programs. 

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be interpreters and translators. If you are fluent in a language, training lasts seven to 20 weeks, depending on your language. If you need to learn a language, training lasts six to 12 months. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Foreign Language
• Psychology
• Sign Language
• World Cultures
• World History

Many interpreters and translators are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer applicants who are fluent in more than one language. They often prefer applicants who have college degrees. Employers of court interpreters often prefer those who are certified. Employers may also prefer applicants who have experience. Many interpreters and translators start by working part time as freelancers.

Employers are as much interested in the applicant's cultural background and knowledge as with language skills. This background may include travel or study abroad. Scientific and professional workers should have graduate degrees in the fields in which they translate.

Court trials may sometimes involve interpreting emotionally charged and traumatic testimonies. Interpreters need to be able to remain calm and subjective in these situations. They also must be able to work well under pressure.

Tips

Join foreign language clubs and professional organizations. Read foreign language newspapers and publications to keep current in both developments and usage. Tune in foreign language radio and television programs. Travel or live abroad. Attend school in foreign countries if possible. Freelance court interpreters should be willing and able to travel to different trial courts if necessary.

#Added cmts regarding being willing to travel & able handle court testimonies as mentioned on the State Court Interpreter website, 4/9/08, cj.

Costs to workers

Workers may wish to join a state or national professional association, which may have yearly dues. Translators who work on contract usually must purchase equipment, such as a computer and reference materials. Workers may also need to pay for continuing education classes to retain their certification status. Interpreters who are certified by the State of Washington must pay a testing fee and an annual certification fee.

#removed ref to fax machine. 5/2/11 lh

Licensing/certification

Federal court interpreters must pass a written and an oral exam to earn certification from the Administrative Office of the US Courts.

For information, contact:

Office of Public Affairs
Administrative Office of the US Courts 
One Columbus Circle NE
Washington, DC 20544
202.502.2600

State court interpreters seeking certification must pass a written and oral test in Arabic (Egyptian), Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Cantonese, French, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, Marshallese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese, pass a criminal background check, and submit a completed fingerprint card. Certified interpreters must complete and submit proof of 16 hours of continuing education units (two of which must be ethics) and 20 hours of legal interpreting in court or administrative hearings every two years.

Court interpreters who wish to become registered must take a state written exam and complete foreign language speaking assessment exam. A criminal background check is also required. Registration is for interpreters who are skilled in languages not included in the certification program. Registered interpreters must complete and submit proof of 10 hours of continuing education units (two of which must be ethics) every two years. Both registered and certified court interpreters must take a one-day orientation program on interpreting skills and attend a class on courtroom protocol and interpreter ethics. They also must execute the Oath of Interpreter and obtain an interpreter ID badge for court proceedings.

For information on state certification or registration, contact:

Office of the Administrator for the Courts
Interpreter Certification Program 
PO Box 41170
Olympia, WA 98504-1170
360.753.3365

You can also contact the Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society listed in the Other Resources section of this description.

Translators may be certified in certain languages by the American Translators Association after successful completion of required exams. Interpreters and translators working with clients of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services must pass oral and written tests and complete a two hour orientation and two hours of ethics training to obtain certification from that agency. Social and Health Services offers certification in Cambodian, Korean, Laotian, Chinese-Mandarin, Chinese-Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Certification by the State court qualifies the interpreter for Social and Health Services certification in that language. Interpreters in medical settings must also be current on vaccinations and be screened for infectious diseases.

For information, contact:

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Language Testing and Certification (LTC) Program 
PO Box 45820
Olympia, WA 98504-5820
360.664.6035

#added ph for Feds from contact page of website,

#Added info on state court interpreter registration which is new; rest of info still the same, state still only certifies interpreters in 5 languages above per info sheet on their web site, 4/3/06, CJ. ph # update 1/30/19

#all fine 3/15/13 lh. Ok overall; added note about additional requirements for medical interpreters, 3/26/14 cj. Updated languages certified by State Courts & DSHS & added orientation and ethics reqs for DSHS 5/2/16 cj. update url DSHS page 1/30/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Interpreters and Translators 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Interpreters may be paid by the day. Court and conference interpreters can earn between $250 to $500 per day, if they are employed by the federal government or by private industry. State courts usually pay a lower rate. Many interpreters work in schools and other settings and are paid much less.

Translators are usually paid by the word, page, or project. Their wages also vary widely.

Full-time interpreters and translators often receive benefits. These include sick leave, vacation, and health insurance. Those who work part time or are self-employed must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 22% of interpreters and translators are self-employed.

Interpreters and translators work in all parts of the country. However, a large percentage of them work in New York City and Washington, DC.

Major employers:

• Interpretation or translation companies
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Hospitals
• Local, state, and federal government agencies

National outlook

The demand for sign language interpreters is expected to significantly increase. The number of jobs for interpreters and translators will grow as businesses continue to expand their operations into other countries. As a result, workers will be needed to help American workers communicate with their non-English speaking coworkers. There is also a growing need for services for deaf people.

Interpreters and translators will be needed in schools, other public agencies, and large work places. In addition, the growth of the health care industry will create more jobs.

Growth of the Internet and the need to have websites in several languages will contribute to job growth. Another reason for job growth is that the military needs additional interpreters and translators in the Middle East. Job prospects will vary by language.

Other resources

American Association for Applied Linguistics 

American Association of Teachers of German 

American Sign Language Teachers Association 

American Translators Association 
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 590
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.683.6100

Explore Health Careers: Health Care Interpreter 

Gallaudet University Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies 

Interpreters United 
1212 Jefferson Street SE, #300
Olympia, WA 98501
800.562.6002

Linguistic Society of America 
522 21st St. NW, Suite 120
Washington, DC 20006-5012

National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators 
2002 Summit Boulevard, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30319
404.566.4705

National Association of the Deaf 
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 820
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301.587.1789 (TTY)
301.587.1788 (Voice)

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care 
5614 Connecticut Avenue NW, #119
Washington, DC 20015-2604

Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society 
1037 NE 65th Street, #107
Seattle, WA 98115
206.701.9183

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 
333 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.838.0459 (TTY)
703.838.0030 (VOICE)

The American Association of Language Specialists 
3051 Idaho Avenue NW, #425
Washington, DC 20016
202.580.5587

The Translator's Home Companion 

References

Career cluster

• Education and Training

Career path

• Artistic

O*Net  occupation

• Interpreters and Translators (27-3091.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Interpreter (137.267-010) 
• Interpreter, Deaf (137.267-014) 
• Translator (137.267-018) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Translator

Holland occupational cluster

• Artistic/Social/Conventional

COPSystem

• Communication