* * * This is NOT a job offer * * * The purpose of this occupational guide is to provide you with useful information to help you make career decisions. If you are searching for a job, please go to CalJobs (for jobs in California)     OR      JOBcentral (for jobs nationwide)

More Occupational Guides

Translators and Interpreters

THE JOB

Translators and Interpreters are concerned with the translation of spoken or 
written words and expressions from one language into another.  Translators 
deal with written text.  They write documents and other written materials in 
another language.  Interpreters work with live speech.  They listen to 
speakers and translate what they say.  Sign language Interpreters provide 
translation between spoken and sign language communication.  Translators and 
Interpreters must have a high degree of fluency in the languages they 
translate and an understanding of the subject matter.  In addition they 
should have excellent Research and public speaking skills.

Most of the work of the Translator falls into three categories:  literary, 
legal, and scientific and technical.  Literary translation is usually done 
on a commission basis for publishing houses and requires a flair for 
creative writing.  Literary Translators work closely with the author so that 
the material involved has the most accurate translation.  Legal Translators 
translate legal documents such as laws, foreign court orders, and treaties 
of the U. S. State Department.  They are in charge of accurately translating 
even ambiguous or unclear statements.  Translators who specialize in the 
scientific and technical field translate scientific and technical 
documents.  It is very important, therefore, that they have some knowledge 
of the field that is the subject of translation.

Interpreters usually work either as guides and escorts or as conference or 
court Interpreters.  They may interpret consecutively, waiting for the 
speaker to pause to translate what has been said, or simultaneously, in 
which case they translate continuously while the speaker is talking.  The 
latter is a more difficult type of interpreting, but it is required of court 
and international conference Interpreters.  It requires such an intuitive 
knowledge of the source language and the subject matter that the interpreter 
must be able to anticipate what the speaker will say as well as have the 
ability to talk and listen at the same time.  Court Interpreters must 
interpret simultaneously except when the non-English speaking person is on 
the stand testifying, in which case they interpret consecutively.

The job of sign language Interpreters is very similar to the job of foreign 
language Interpreters.  In sign language interpreting, however, the hands 
rather than a foreign language are used to communicate.  Sign language 
Interpreters translate a speaker's words into American Sign Language (ASL), 
using their hands, fingers, and facial expressions.  They also repeat the 
deaf person's signed response to the speaker.


WORKING CONDITIONS

A number of Translators and Interpreters work on a free-lance basis, either 
directly for their clients or through translation agencies.  Some work full 
time for the county or state, principally with the Municipal and Superior 
Courts, the Prison Board, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.  A few have 
jobs with the federal government.  The United Nations, other international 
organizations and some companies with foreign interests also employ 
Translators and Interpreters.  Translators and Interpreters working for 
private corporations usually devote varying amounts of time to other duties 
such as technical writing and teaching.  Sign language Interpreters work 
just about anywhere a deaf person needs to communicate.

Translators, Interpreters and sign language Interpreters often have to work 
long and unusual hours.  The demand for their service may be sporadic.  
Interpreters sometimes get the opportunity to travel when acting as escorts 
or guides.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

Employment for Translators and Interpreters is limited and likely to remain 
so.  Most of the job openings that occur will probably be due to replacement 
needs.  These vacancies, however, will quickly be filled by highly skilled 
workers.  Beginning Translators and Interpreters may have difficulty finding 
jobs, whether full-time or free-lance.  In California the languages that are 
necessary to know for the majority of translation and interpreting jobs are 
Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

The employment outlook for sign language Interpreters is good.  This is due 
in part to laws that require that services of federally funded programs be 
available to the deaf and to the Americans with Disabilities Act, enacted in 
1990.  This act requires that employers provide an interpreter for deaf 
individuals if they employ 25 or more workers for 20 or more calendar weeks 
in a year.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Salaries for Translators and Interpreters depend on certification, skill, 
experience, education, and type of employer.  Translators who work for the 
State start at $2,379 a month; the top pay is $2,853 monthly.  Individuals 
who are classified as language specialists for the federal government begin 
at the GS-5 level which starts at $19,693 a year and can advance to the 
GS-10 level which caps at $42,723 a year.  Very few advance to the GS-15 
level which starts at $71,521 annually.

Salaries vary widely in the private sector.  Conference, guide, or escort 
Interpreters, for example, earn as little as $11.00 or as much as $66.00 or 
more an hour depending on the complexity and technical nature of the 
interpreting.  Conference interpreting generally pays more than guide or 
escort interpreting.  Interpreters of foreign languages and sign language 
Interpreters who free-lance earn between $9.00 and $44.00 an hour.  Those 
who do court interpretations earn from $155.00 to $230.00 for a full day and 
$82.00 to $140.00 for a half day.  Salaries of free-lance Translators depend 
on the number of words or pages they need to translate.  The U.S. State 
Department, for example, pays an average of $110.00 for the translation of 
1,000 words from a foreign language to English.  Earnings are generally 
lower in the private sector.  However, the United Nations and other 
international agencies pay higher rates than the U.S. government.  Free-
lancers can't expect to work full time.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Translators and Interpreters need to be skilled in one or more languages 
other than their own, plus they should have a thorough knowledge of the 
culture and customs of the countries where these languages are spoken.  
Court Interpreters must be certified.  Cooperative  Personnel Services in 
Sacramento is the only agency in California that administers testing 
programs for court Interpreters.  A college degree is generally not required 
for free-lance work, but it provides the facility of expression and broad 
knowledge necessary for this work.  Travel abroad is highly recommended for 
becoming familiar with the cultural environment of other languages.  A 
Bachelor of Arts in the main language, passing a test and being skilled in 
three of the six official United Nations languages are the minimum 
requirements needed to work for the United Nations.

Although sign language Interpreters don't need to be certified to obtain a 
job, employers often show preference to certified applicants.

Few schools in the United States provide certificate programs in translating 
and interpreting and fewer provide actual degree programs.  The Monterey 
Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, offers the only 
Master's degree program in California.  Georgetown University in Washington, 
D.C., offers a certificate in translating and interpreting in conjunction 
with both undergraduate and graduate programs in its School of Languages and 
Linguistics.  Many community and four year colleges offer certificate 
programs and/or AA degrees in American Sign Language Interpretation.


ADVANCEMENT

Competency in language determines the speed of advancement for Translators 
and Interpreters.  Advancement may consist of more difficult assignments and 
higher pay.  Translators may advance to translation editor positions or 
reviewers who check the work of other Translators.  Some own translation 
agencies.  Interpreters and sign language Interpreters may become chief 
interpreters, staff directors, or managers.


FINDING THE JOB

Translators, Interpreters and sign language Interpreters should apply 
directly to private firms or government agencies.  College graduates find 
job leads through their college placement office.  The U.S. Office of 
Personnel Management and the State Personnel Board have information about 
positions available in their departments.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

American Translators Association
1735 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Suite 90
Arlington, VA 22314
(703) 683-6100             Fax (703) 683-6122

Cooperative Personnel Services
191 Lathrop Way, Suite A
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 263-3600

Office of the United Nations Resources Management
1 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
(212) 963-1234, Extension 2145

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf 
8719 Colesville Road, Suite 310
Silver Springs, MD 20910-3919
(301) 608-0050


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Technical Writers                 No. 138
Librarians                        No. 154


OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1)
Interpreter                   137.267-010
Interpreter, Deaf             137.267-014
Translator                    137.267-018

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Other Professionals, Paraprofess., Technical         399990


Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department, 
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group, 
         (916) 262-2162.