What Does an Interpreter and Translator Do?
Interpreters and translators carry meaning from one language into another, interpreters out loud and on the spot, translators on the page in contracts, medical records and websites. Much of the work is in hospitals, courts, schools and businesses, though many translators freelance from home. Some settle on one specialty, such as court or medical work.
Also known as: Foreign Language Interpreter/Translator
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter), Court Interpreter, Educational Interpreter, Interpreter, Linguist, Medical Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter, Spanish Interpreter.
Interpreter and Translator Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an interpreter and translator include:
- Interpret spoken conversations between clients and providers, consecutively or simultaneously, without adding or leaving out meaning.
- Translate written documents such as contracts, medical records and websites into the target language.
- Prepare before assignments by building glossaries of legal, medical or technical terms.
- Review translations by colleagues for accuracy, tone and consistent terminology.
- Use computer-assisted translation tools such as Trados or memoQ to keep terms consistent.
- Sight-translate forms and letters aloud for clients who cannot read them in English.
- Follow professional codes on confidentiality and impartiality in courts, clinics and meetings.
- Localize marketing and software text so dates, units and idioms suit readers in another country.
- Explain cultural differences to both parties when a literal rendering would confuse or offend.
- Keep track of deadlines, invoices and client files, especially for freelance and agency work.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an interpreter and translator, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Full fluency in English and at least one other language
- ATA certification or a state court interpreter credential
- Translation tools such as Trados or memoQ
- Note-taking for consecutive interpreting
- Cultural knowledge of the regions you work with
- Strict confidentiality and impartiality
- Research skills for specialist vocabulary
- Concentration during long, fast exchanges
Education and Training
Language tests carry the most weight in hiring, because agencies and courts want proof of skill in both languages. Beyond a bachelor's degree, a recognized credential such as American Translators Association certification or state court interpreter certification sets candidates apart. Growing up bilingual is only the start.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $46,530 - $80,830 per year, with a median of $60,170.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Interpreters and Translators.
BLS projects employment of interpreters and translators to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 6,000 openings a year. Demand often is tied to immigration, trade and health care, but interpreters always will be needed as courts and hospitals serve people who speak other languages. Machine translation now handles some routine documents, so newcomers are more likely to find steady work in live interpreting, medical settings or specialist translation.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Interpreters and translators.
Interpreter and Translator Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $37,070 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $46,530 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $60,170 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $80,830 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $103,660 |
Highest-Paying States for Interpreter and Translators
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($109,970), Maryland ($88,550), New York ($84,090), Rhode Island ($82,320), Massachusetts ($72,750). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($46,130), Michigan ($45,310), Hawaii ($42,270).
Median pay in all 47 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $46,130 |
| Arizona | $50,150 |
| Arkansas | $52,490 |
| California | $70,770 |
| Colorado | $71,790 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 |
| District of Columbia | $109,970 |
| Florida | $48,930 |
| Georgia | $57,880 |
| Hawaii | $42,270 |
| Idaho | $66,130 |
| Illinois | $55,290 |
| Indiana | $48,140 |
| Iowa | $48,150 |
| Kansas | $47,950 |
| Kentucky | $53,590 |
| Louisiana | $48,420 |
| Maine | $63,470 |
| Maryland | $88,550 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 |
| Michigan | $45,310 |
| Minnesota | $66,410 |
| Mississippi | $57,130 |
| Missouri | $57,010 |
| Montana | $47,850 |
| Nebraska | $53,050 |
| Nevada | $50,370 |
| New Hampshire | $56,370 |
| New Jersey | $58,970 |
| New Mexico | $63,550 |
| New York | $84,090 |
| North Carolina | $50,030 |
| North Dakota | $48,190 |
| Ohio | $61,230 |
| Oklahoma | $48,980 |
| Oregon | $66,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,040 |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 |
| South Carolina | $50,860 |
| South Dakota | $53,140 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 |
| Texas | $47,510 |
| Utah | $65,770 |
| Vermont | $62,450 |
| Virginia | $63,030 |
| Washington | $61,750 |
| Wisconsin | $63,390 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as interpreters and translators about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 98% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 93% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 74% use email every day
- 72% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 72% work against deadlines every day
- 60% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 41% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 55% |
| Master's degree | 28% |
| High school diploma or GED | 8% |
Tools and Software Interpreter and Translators Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as creative work and self-expression.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Foreign Language, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Administrative.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 27-3091.00 (Interpreters and Translators). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.