Quick Facts: Interpreters and Translators |
| 2024 Median Pay | $59,440 per year $28.58 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2023 | 78,300 |
| Job Outlook, 2023-33 | 2% (Slower than average) |
| Employment Change, 2023-2033 | 1,800 |
Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language.
Interpreters and translators work in settings such as schools, hospitals, courtrooms, meeting rooms, and conference centers. Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary.
Interpreters and translators typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. They also must be proficient in English and at least one other language, as well as in the interpretation or translation service they intend to provide.
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators was $59,440 in May 2024.
Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 2 percent from 2023 to 2033, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 7,500 openings for interpreters and translators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Interpreters and Translators,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm (visited May 5, 2022).