Occupation · SOC 27-3091
Interpreters and Translators
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
Median wage
$59,440
$35,630–$99,830
Projected growth
+1.7%
Slower than average
Annual openings
130
per year
Employed (US)
53,360
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,612 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningTime ManagementLearning StrategiesInstructingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingPersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesNegotiationSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringMathematicsTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisTroubleshootingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesScienceProgrammingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageForeign LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaPsychologySociology and AnthropologyAdministration and ManagementMathematicsMedicine and DentistryGeographyPersonnel and Human ResourcesTelecommunicationsBiologyTherapy and CounselingTransportationProduction and ProcessingHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingChemistryDesignEngineering and TechnologyPhysicsMechanicalFine ArtsBuilding and ConstructionFood Production
Technology & tools
AceTools.biz Ace TranslatorAdapt ItAmoK TranslatorAshkon Translation PadBabylon Online TranslatorDocTranslateElectronic dictionariesExcelTrans TranslatorExtensible hypertext markup language XHTMLGoogle Translate ClientHunterSoft Business TranslatorHypertext markup language HTMLIntrado SchoolMessengerLanguage Engineering Corporation Translate ProLingoesMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordOmegaTSmart Link Corporation ImTranslatorStormdance CatsCradleVoice over internet protocol VoIP system softwareWeb browser softwarejalada GmbH Just Translate
Representative tasks
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsGetting InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsThinking CreativelyTraining and Teaching OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkAnalyzing Data or InformationWorking with ComputersDeveloping and Building TeamsAssisting and Caring for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCoaching and Developing OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Ethical confidentiality codes — apply under supervisor guidance when handling sensitive client documents in a professional translation setting.Consecutive interpretation of straightforward messages — produce with direct oversight in low-stakes bilingual meetings or community service contexts.Speaker statements and intent — listen attentively and identify core meanings using provided electronic listening equipment during supervised assignments.Basic terminology lists for a single subject domain — compile from dictionaries and lexicons prior to a scheduled translation task.Reference materials such as dictionaries, glossaries, and online terminology banks — consult systematically to verify word choices during entry-level translation work.Technical terms in a familiar subject area — check for accuracy against approved glossaries under the direction of a senior translator.Word-level conflicts between source and target language — recognize and flag for review by an experienced colleague in a supervised workflow.Background information on assigned translation content and intended audience — gather following a structured intake checklist before beginning work.Foreign language software and word processing tools — operate at a functional level to format and submit completed translations on time.Time management on single-assignment deadlines — apply basic scheduling practices to deliver drafts within defined turnaround windows.
developing
Confidentiality protocols and professional ethics codes — uphold independently across routine legal, medical, and business translation assignments without supervisor prompting.Consecutive and emerging simultaneous interpretation — perform with reduced oversight in standard conference or community settings, maintaining message context and register.Nuanced speaker meaning and implied tone — interpret accurately using electronic listening systems during moderately complex multilingual interactions.Domain-specific terminology databases covering legal or medical content — build and maintain for reuse across recurring project types.Multiple reference resources including specialized lexicons and computerized terminology banks — cross-reference efficiently to resolve ambiguous terms during active translation projects.Technical terminology consistency across successive document revisions — verify and correct systematically within a multi-document translation workflow.Conceptual conflicts arising from cultural or linguistic differences — identify, analyze, and resolve using established professional judgment in familiar subject domains.Audience analysis and contextual research — conduct independently to inform register, tone, and terminology selection before beginning mid-complexity assignments.Mobile messaging, email, and presentation software — coordinate communication with clients and project managers to clarify scope and deliver polished outputs on schedule.Active learning strategies — apply to rapidly acquire new domain vocabulary when assigned outside a primary specialization area.
proficient
Strict ethical and confidentiality standards — enforce across all assignment types, including high-security legal proceedings and sensitive medical consultations, without oversight.Simultaneous interpretation across the full range of message complexity — perform autonomously in live conference, courtroom, or broadcast environments while preserving style and intent.Rapid real-time speech comprehension across diverse accents and registers — achieve consistently using advanced electronic listening systems in high-pressure multilingual settings.Comprehensive, reusable terminology resources covering multiple technical domains — develop and curate to support both personal workflows and team-wide translation quality.Complex conflicts in meaning, concept, or cultural practice — independently analyze, research, and resolve using critical thinking and deductive reasoning across unfamiliar subject matter.Translations of specialized legal, medical, or technical materials — produce at publication quality, maintaining conceptual fidelity and stylistic equivalence throughout.Terminology accuracy and cross-document consistency — audit rigorously across large multi-revision projects, applying systematic quality-control procedures.Contextual and audience intelligence — synthesize from multiple sources to calibrate language formality, cultural references, and persuasive impact in high-stakes translated content.Database and spreadsheet tools for translation memory and project tracking — leverage to optimize throughput and traceability across concurrent assignments.Complex problem-solving in non-routine linguistic situations — apply structured reasoning to determine best-fit solutions when standard reference materials are insufficient.
advanced
Organization-wide ethical frameworks for interpreter and translator conduct — design, champion, and enforce to ensure institutional compliance with professional and legal standards.Simultaneous interpretation methodology and best practices — mentor emerging and developing practitioners, conducting structured coaching sessions and performance debriefs.Quality standards for interpretation and translation across the full occupational scope — establish benchmarks, review output against them, and drive continuous improvement across teams.Enterprise-level terminology governance systems — architect and oversee, ensuring consistent multilingual terminology management across all departments and external partners.Strategic language resource planning — lead acquisition and deployment of foreign language software, translation memory platforms, and AI-assisted tools at the organizational level.Cross-cultural conflict resolution frameworks — develop and institutionalize to guide practitioners in resolving high-stakes meaning, concept, and behavioral ambiguities in sensitive contexts.Thought leadership on translation quality, ethics, and emerging technology — produce and present at industry conferences, building the organization's external reputation.Complex multi-stakeholder language service projects — direct from intake through delivery, coordinating interpreters, translators, clients, and technology systems under demanding timelines.Learning and development curricula for language professionals — design and implement, incorporating active learning strategies tailored to Job Zone 4 competency progression.Organizational policy on public safety, legal compliance, and information security in language services — advise executive leadership and set direction to mitigate institutional risk.
Also known as
35 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter)Arabic TranslatorBilingual InterpreterBilingual SecretaryBraille TranscriberBraille TranslatorCommunity InterpreterContract TranslatorCourt InterpreterCryptologic LinguistDeaf InterpreterDiplomatic InterpreterEducational InterpreterEnglish TranslatorFarsi LinguistForeign Language InterpreterFreelance TranslatorInterpreterLanguage InterpreterLanguage TranslatorLegal TranslatorLinguistMedical InterpreterParaprofessional InterpreterRussian LinguistSchool Sign Language InterpreterSign Language InterpreterSign Language TranslatorSpanish Analytic LinguistSpanish InterpreterSpanish TranslatorSpanish-English InterpreterTechnical TranslatorTranslatorVietnamese Interpreter