Interpreters and translators

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2019 Workforce

83.7k

Average Age

41.8

Estimated Job Growth

20%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$38,448

Average Male Salary

$49,175

Average Female Salary

$34,020

About

Interpreters and translators are most often employed by the Other professional, scientific & technical services industry. The average yearly wage for Interpreters and translators was $38,448 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Interpreters and translators by wage are Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other, Molders, shapers, & casters, except metal & plastic, and Miscellaneous production workers, including semiconductor processors.

Interpreters and translators are part of the Arts, design, entertainment, sports, & media occupations, along with Artists & related workers, Commercial and industrial designers, Fashion designers, Floral designers, Graphic designers, and 25 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Interpreters and translators are Seaside, Monterey, Marina & Pacific Grove Cities PUMA, CA, Manchester City PUMA, NH, and Provo City PUMA, UT. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Interpreters and translators are Seaside, Monterey, Marina & Pacific Grove Cities PUMA, CA, Manchester City PUMA, NH, and Provo City PUMA, UT.

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Education, legal, community service, arts, & media occupations Arts, design, entertainment, sports, & media occupations

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Interpreters and translators and on wages and locations for those in the field. Other professional, scientific & technical services is the industry that employs the most Interpreters and translators, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Interpreters and translators, by average wage, is National security & international affairs. Interpreters and translators are paid most in Columbia County PUMA, GA but are relatively concentrated in Seaside, Monterey, Marina & Pacific Grove Cities PUMA, CA.

Wages

Yearly Wage

$38,448

AVERAGE SALARY

± $2,965

In 2019, Interpreters and translators earned an average of $38,448, $17,076 less than than the average national salary of $55,524.

Molders, shapers, & casters, except metal & plastic make somewhat more than Interpreters and translators while Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Interpreters and translators as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.417

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Interpreters and translators had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.417, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Interpreters and translators (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Interpreters and translators.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Interpreters and translators

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Interpreters and translators.

Industries

Most Common

The most common industries employing Interpreters and translators, by number of employees, are Other professional, scientific & technical services , Elementary & secondary schools, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Other schools & instruction and educational support services, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Justice, public order, & safety activities , U. S. Army, Business support services, Legal services, National security & international affairs, and Museums, art galleries, historical sites, & similar institutions.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Interpreters and translators, by average wage, are National security & international affairs, Other schools & instruction and educational support services, and Executive offices & legislative bodies.

Industries by Share

83.7k

2019 Workforce

± 7,103

2.61%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 11.8%

The number of people employed as Interpreters and translators has been growing at a rate of 2.61%, from 81,614 people in 2018 to 83,745 people in 2019.

This graphic shows the share of Interpreters and translators employed by various industries. Other professional, scientific & technical services employs the largest share of Interpreters and translators at 38.2%, followed by Elementary & secondary schools with 13.6% and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 8.03%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Interpreters and translators in the US. The average age of male Interpreters and translators in the workforce is 39.8 and of female Interpreters and translators is 42.6, and the most common race/ethnicity for Interpreters and translators is White (Non-Hispanic).

Gender Composition

24.5k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 3,840

59.3k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 5,976

70.8% of Interpreters and translators are Female, making them the more common gender in the occupation. This chart shows the gender breakdown of Interpreters and translators.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Interpreters and translators

White (Non-Hispanic)
White (Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)

44.1% of Interpreters and translators are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 25.5% of Interpreters and translators, White (Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Interpreters and translators.

Age by Gender

39.8

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 2.3

42.6

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 1.37

The median age of Interpreters and translators is 41.8, and Male employees are generally 2.76 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Interpreters and translators from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Interpreters and translators is Language & Linguistics but a relatively high number of Interpreters and translators hold a major in Language & Linguistics.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Projections

Projections on job growth for Interpreters and Translators from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Interpreters and Translators are expected to see a growth of 20% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

20%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Interpreters and Translators. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.