What Does an Interpreting Services Supervisor Do?
Whether the request is for a lecture, a lab session or a campus ceremony, deaf and hard of hearing students need a qualified interpreter in the room when things start. The interpreting services supervisor makes that happen, scheduling and leading a team of sign language interpreters and transliterators, usually in a university or school district office. Many still take assignments themselves.
Also known as: Interpreter/Transliterator Services Supervisor
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.
Interpreting Services Supervisor Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an interpreting services supervisor include:
- Schedule sign language interpreters, transliterators and captioners for classes, meetings and campus events.
- Match interpreters to assignments by skill level, subject knowledge and each student's communication preferences.
- Hire, train and evaluate staff interpreters, including observing live assignments and giving feedback.
- Book freelance or agency interpreters when staff cannot cover a request, and approve their invoices.
- Interpret in lectures and meetings when requests exceed the team's capacity.
- Set team policies on requests, cancellations, no-shows and interpreter breaks during long sessions.
- Track service hours and costs; prepare budget requests and reports for the disability services director.
- Advise faculty and event planners on seating, lighting and pacing that help interpreted sessions work.
- Arrange team interpreting for long or technical sessions so interpreters can rotate and stay accurate.
- Support staff interpreters working toward RID certification with mentoring and workshop time.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an interpreting services supervisor, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- RID national interpreter certification
- Fluent American Sign Language and English
- Scheduling software and shared calendars
- Knowledge of disability access law, including the ADA
- Supervising and mentoring interpreters
- Budget tracking for staff and contract hours
- Calm problem-solving when a booking falls through
- Understanding of Deaf culture and communication preferences
Education and Training
Several years as a certified staff interpreter in schools or colleges usually come before the move to supervisor. Employers expect national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and a bachelor's degree, often in interpreting or deaf studies. A management course is how some prepare for the budgets and hiring that come with the job.
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.
Figures here cover the wider BLS group of interpreters and translators, which is projected to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 6,000 openings a year. And, as long as colleges enroll deaf and hard of hearing students, someone will be needed to make sure every class, meeting and event has an interpreter. Supervisor posts come up less often, so experience counts.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Interpreters and translators.
Interpreting Services Supervisor 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 Interpreting Services Supervisors
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 Interpreting Services Supervisors 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.