Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between bilingual interpreters and language translators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a bilingual interpreter and a language translator. Additionally, a language translator has an average salary of $45,490, which is higher than the $44,168 average annual salary of a bilingual interpreter.
The top three skills for a bilingual interpreter include patients, translation services and interpretation services. The most important skills for a language translator are proofreading, foreign language, and target language.
| Bilingual Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,168 | $45,490 |
| Hourly rate | $21.23 | $21.87 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 5,338 | 21,450 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A bilingual interpreter is responsible for translating communications from one language to another without compromising the focus of the context. Bilingual interpreters manage verbal and written interactions between parties, including the translation of complicated terminologies to comprehensive statements with the same meaning. They should be excellently familiar with the style and structure of their language expertise to translate codes effectively. A bilingual interpreter must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as coordinating with different kinds of people efficiently to assist clients in their daily tasks.
Language translators are linguistic professionals who are responsible for converting information from one language to another to help people read the translation based on the original source. These translators must use a computer to translate the original language into their native language. They can work for software development companies as under contract independent foreign language translators. They must utilize target language to translate and transcribe critical information and performing immediate data analysis. Language translators must also provide interpretations for meetings, conferences, and administrative hearings for any sponsored functions.
Bilingual interpreters and language translators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Bilingual Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Average salary | $44,168 | $45,490 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $71,000 | Between $29,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Randolph Health | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Government |
There are a few differences between a bilingual interpreter and a language translator in terms of educational background:
| Bilingual Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | English |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between bilingual interpreters' and language translators' demographics:
| Bilingual Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% | Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 47.2% Asian, 11.0% White, 32.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 31.5% Asian, 18.0% White, 38.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |