How to Become a Professional Translator:
The Definitive Guide

Job Description

A Professional Translator should know and be fluent in a foreign language, or sometimes more than one, to help bridge the gap between customers, clients, friends, and even family.

This can be done in the form of written communication, such as emails, letters, and chats, or through verbal communication on the phone or in person.

Duties

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Salary

The average Professional Translator in the United States has a yearly salary of $57,090.

Hourly, this comes out to about $27.47 or $1,098 per week for those who have some experience in the field.

People who work for the government or have years of experience as Professional translators can make over $64,350 per year in some areas.

At this rate, a Professional Translator will make $1,237.50 per week or $30 per hour.

The lower wage for a Professional Translator is around $35,010 per year.

A new Professional Translator will typically have an hourly salary of $16 or $683 per week.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

*Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey.
Conducted by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

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How to Become: Step-by-Step

Step 1Become Fluent

The first step in becoming a Professional Translator is to know a foreign language fluently.

Mastering another language can start when you are young and can take several years to develop.

To become fluent in another language, you should take classes, talk with people who speak the language, listen to audiobooks, use apps, and watch videos of people who are speaking the language.

You may even be able to take a class in high school on the language that you prefer to learn.

Some people choose to enroll in college to earn a degree in a foreign language, which can take two to four years to complete.

Step 2Train

Once you have completed the majority of your learning of a foreign language, you are going to need specialized training.

This is so that you can listen and speak while having discussions with people you are trying to interpret for.

You’ll want to learn how to take on a training program that can last anywhere from six months to a couple of years.

Within these types of programs, you will learn how to listen and gain short-term memory skills as well as active listening.

Some of these courses can be taken online or you can sign up at a local college.

Many of the courses are self-paced, which means you can take them on your own time and complete them in the time you need.

Step 3Earn Certification

After finishing training, you will likely receive a certificate of completion, but that does not mean you are certified.

You don’t have to have a certification to work as a Professional Translator, but it does look good to employers.

The American Translators Association is a great place to start as they have about thirty different certifications available.

This association is one of the only recognized credentials throughout the world, so the certification is quite outstanding.

To become certified, you will need to complete an exam that takes about sixteen weeks to grade.

The exam is in three parts of about 250 questions each, and written, audio, and multiple choice questions are a part of it.

Once you complete the exam, you will learn if you have passed or failed, if you fail, you can retake the exam at any time.

Step 4Earn a Degree

Completing a degree can be done at any point in time when considering working as a Professional Translator.

There are plenty of online and in-person programs available at universities across the United States.

To have the best chance of employment, you’ll want to complete a degree in linguistics, translation applied communication and translation, or a foreign language.

You are welcome to decide if an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree is a better choice for you.

It is always possible to go back to school and earn a bachelor’s degree, which can take about two more years after completing your Associate.

Expect to take classes that are heavy in foreign language, culture, diversity, and communication.

Step 5Become Experienced

Once you have completed your degree and certification, you’ll be ready to find a solid career as a Professional Translator.

Each time you help a business with a translation, you are gaining experience.

The best way to become experienced as a Professional Translator is to shadow, intern, or become an apprentice at a business that uses translation.

You could also translate in your personal life by having friends or family who know foreign languages speak to someone who doesn’t and help each other understand.

Volunteer at a local hospital or government agency to help those who do not know English to get the help that they need.

Use your translation skills every day to succeed as a Professional Translator.

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Education

When it comes to working as a Professional Translator, there are several different paths you can take to become educated.

First, you’ll need to be fluent in a foreign language.

You can start this as a child, high schooler, or even in college, but you will need to have an adequate understanding of the language to speak it to people every day.

Once you have mastered a foreign language, it is important to take on a program that will show you how to work as a translator.

There are programs all around the country, and some are even online, that can take about six months to finish.

Within these programs, you’ll learn how to listen and speak in real time, and how to research and develop strategies for short-term memory.

This is just one way that you can learn, another option is to earn a college degree.

Whether you decide on an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree is up to you.

An associate’s degree will take you two years to finish while a Bachelor is a four-year commitment.

Expect to complete a degree in linguistics, applied communication and translation, foreign language, or translation.

You will want to make sure that you are taking certain classes to get the most out of your degree.

These classes will include subjects such as:

• Translation Methods
• Translation Theory
• Culture and Diversity
• Language Meaning and Word Structure

While you are earning your degree, you will likely need some hands-on experience.

This can come in the form of an internship, study abroad, apprenticeship, or even volunteer work.

Depending on how much time you want to spend on your craft, you can dedicate anywhere from six months to several years to hands-on knowledge.

After completing a degree, you will be ready to step into the world of a Professional Translator.

Video About The Career

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Licensing & Certification

There is no mandatory certification to work as a Professional Translator, but credentials look great to a future employer.

Certification shows that you have the skills necessary to do the job proficiently and correctly.

One of the best places to earn certification is the American Translators Association, which provides thirty different options for certificates.

Other great places to look into are the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.

With the American Translators Association, you’ll get to choose which language or languages you’d like to become certified in, and then it will be time to take an exam to show your proficiency.

The exam is set up into three parts, multiple choice, written, and audio, each containing about 200 questions.

Once you finish the exam, you will receive your results in about sixteen weeks, and you will then be able to work as a full-time certified Professional Translator if you pass.

Those who do not pass will be able to take the exam again as soon as they want.

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting is another great database that provides options on universities, certification, and even internships.

Those who are looking for a more niche certification can check out the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.

The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators is an accredited place to find all types of certification for your Professional Translator needs.

You will likely need to become a member of this association before you can complete an exam, which costs about $30.

You may even find certification through your local colleges or government that will provide you with an exam to test your ability to work as a Professional Translator.

It is not required to have any type of extra credential to become a Professional Translator, but those who do will find it easier to gain access to higher-paying jobs as well as promotions within their current employer.

Average Training Program Duration: 0-6 Months

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Popular Programs

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Job Outlook

Over the next ten years, it seems that the career of a Professional Translator will have a positive outlook.

This career will see a growth of around four percent within the next decade.

More people are using online business models, which means they practice with people from all around the world.

Oftentimes, different languages are brought into the mix, which means a translator is necessary to complete business transactions.

Expect to see about 7,200 new Professional Translator careers opening up over the next ten years.

This may be due to older Professional Translators retiring or finding new careers and more business openings for overseas transactions.

Employment Growth Projection: 4%

That's a higher than average projected growth of 3,000 jobs.

Professional Translator: Interest Over Time

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Should You Become a Professional Translator?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long do you have to go to school to become a Professional Translator?

The amount of time that you spend to become a Professional Translator depends on how much work you want to put into your education.

For a basic understanding of the career and all that it entails, you will want to spend at least six months in a translator program.

You can find these online or in person at community colleges or universities around the country.

People who want a more in-depth career can complete an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree, which requires a two to four-year commitment.

Q. How much money does a Professional Translator make a year?

When just beginning your career as a Professional Translator, you should expect to have a salary close to $35,000.

Then, after years of experience and building an understanding of the career, you should have a salary closer to $57,090 every year.

Those who have the most experience as a Professional Translator will typically make an annual salary of $64,350 or more.

Q. What kind of education do you need to be a Professional Translator?

First, it is important to be fluent in a foreign language, which can take years to develop.

To work as a Professional Translator, you’ll need to have training, which can take anywhere from six months to four years, depending on the type of education you desire.

Those who want to continue their education can decide to complete an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree to obtain more knowledge of the career.

Q. ○ Are Professional Translators in high demand?

Yes, right now, there is a dire need for Professional Translators in many areas of business.

From entertainment to education, the ability to speak to people from all around the world has become more popular in today’s world.

This means that it is likely that you will find a great career as a Professional Translator fairly easily in today’s society.

Q. ○ What skills do you need to have to be a Professional Translator?

To find success as a Professional Translator, you’ll want to have a love for learning, necessary foreign language knowledge, and skills like:

• Time management
• Accuracy
• Ability to write and speak efficiently
• Dependability
• Research conduction
• Attention to detail
• Cultural sensitivity

You will want to continue learning throughout your entire career as a Professional Translator, so the desire to always learn more is a required skill for this occupation as well.

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