What does a bilingual interpreter do?
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.
Bilingual interpreter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real bilingual interpreter resumes:
- Observe company's protocols, including HIPAA compliance.
- Set and attend appointments for professional staffs in school setting conferences for IEP, DEP, financial aidand truancy.
- Provide bilingual interpretation during verbal interactions between English-speaking medical professionals and non-English speaking Hispanic patients.
- Assist non-English speaking Hispanic patients providing accurate medical history, expressing medical concerns and receiving educational and various written materials.
- Follow establish departmental guidelines and protect confidentiality of member's information (HIPPA )
Bilingual interpreter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 28% of Bilingual Interpreters are proficient in Patients, Translation Services, and Interpretation Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Cultural sensitivity, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Bilingual Interpreters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 28%
Assisted non-English speaking Hispanic patients providing accurate medical history, expressing medical concerns and receiving educational and various written materials.
- Translation Services, 23%
Provide interpretation and translation services within the hospital and community settings.
- Interpretation Services, 17%
Provided all interpretation services involving maritime personal injuries by Vietnamese claimants, up to and including settlements with the maritime insurance company
- Target Language, 9%
Translate written documents from source language into target language accurately and completely following international translation rules and regulations.
- Customer Service, 9%
Provided excellent customer services and received employee incentives for travel points for excellent customer service.
- Medical Procedures, 5%
Translate written materials: medical procedures, legal documents, billing statements, signs, booklets and correspondence.
Most bilingual interpreters use their skills in "patients," "translation services," and "interpretation services" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential bilingual interpreter responsibilities here:
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a bilingual interpreter to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "self-employed interpreters and translators must be able to manage their finances." Additionally, a bilingual interpreter resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "translated work orders, operation manuals, and other business documents as needed. "
Cultural sensitivity. Many bilingual interpreter duties rely on cultural sensitivity. "interpreters and translators must be aware of expectations among the people for whom they are helping to facilitate communication," so a bilingual interpreter will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways bilingual interpreter responsibilities rely on cultural sensitivity: "educate medical and professional staff regarding cultural issues. "
Dexterity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of bilingual interpreters is dexterity. This skill is critical to many everyday bilingual interpreter duties, as "sign language interpreters must be able to make quick and coordinated hand, finger, and arm movements when interpreting." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "perform frequent transfers and lifting, dressing, bathing, grooming and feeding for all assigned patients. "
Interpersonal skills. bilingual interpreter responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "interpreters and translators must be able to put clients and others at ease." This resume example shows what bilingual interpreters do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "helped break down language barriers, effective communication and interpersonal skillsworked well under emotionally charged conversations"
Listening skills. Another crucial skill for a bilingual interpreter to carry out their responsibilities is "listening skills." A big part of what bilingual interpreters relies on this skill, since "interpreters must pay attention when interpreting for audiences to ensure that they hear and interpret correctly." How this skill relates to bilingual interpreter duties can be seen in an example from a bilingual interpreter resume snippet: "communicated with other volunteers to ensure patients were checked into their appointments. "
The three companies that hire the most bilingual interpreters are:
- CyraCom45 bilingual interpreters jobs
- TransPerfect15 bilingual interpreters jobs
- Health First9 bilingual interpreters jobs
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Compare different bilingual interpreters
Bilingual interpreter vs. Freelance translator
A freelance translator is an independent contractor specializing in translating audio or written materials into a particular language. They primarily communicate with clients to identify their needs and preferences, including project specifications such as deadlines and format. Being a freelance translator means that they can work remotely at their preferred schedule, most of the time, working from home. They are not employed under a company, which is why most freelance translators prepare their own portfolios and create client bases through websites and other platforms.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a bilingual interpreter are more likely to require skills like "patients," "customer service," "medical procedures," and "language services." On the other hand, a job as a freelance translator requires skills like "web content," "vice versa," "user manuals," and "financial reports." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that freelance translators earn slightly differ from bilingual interpreters. In particular, freelance translators are 13.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a bilingual interpreter. Additionally, they're 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bilingual interpreter vs. Translator
A translator is an expert of one or multiple languages, responsible for transcribing communication between parties for easy comprehension. Translators often work with written documents, relaying the core context and original message from the source. They should also be able to translate jargon, slang, cultural expressions, and related technical terms in an understandable format, depending on the level of the target audience. A translator must be highly fluent with the language to render ideas accurately, as well as have excellent time-management skills to meet project deadlines.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, bilingual interpreter responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "customer service," "medical procedures," and "language services." Meanwhile, a translator has duties that require skills in areas such as "vice versa," "web pages," "english-language," and "subtitles." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Translators earn a higher average salary than bilingual interpreters. But translators earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $58,098. Additionally, bilingual interpreters earn the highest salaries in the automotive with average pay of $67,001 annually.In general, translators achieve higher levels of education than bilingual interpreters. They're 5.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bilingual interpreter vs. Arabic translator
Cryptologic linguists are lingual professionals who are responsible for using signals equipment to identify and analyze foreign communications. These linguists must assist intelligence community analysts in translating open source and sensitive materials as well as producing comprehensive reports about the daily activities of their enemies. They are required to supervise a team of other linguistic professionals to provide transcriptions and analysis from foreign communications. Cryptologic linguists must also identify the languages spoken at target geographic areas of interest.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from bilingual interpreter resumes include skills like "patients," "customer service," "medical procedures," and "language services," whereas an arabic translator is more likely to list skills in "vice versa," "english language," "transcription," and "arabic language. "
When it comes to education, arabic translators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to bilingual interpreters. In fact, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Bilingual interpreter vs. Cryptologic linguist
Even though a few skill sets overlap between bilingual interpreters and cryptologic linguists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a bilingual interpreter might have more use for skills like "patients," "translation services," "interpretation services," and "customer service." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of cryptologic linguists require skills like "tip," "government agencies," "national security," and "signals intelligence. "
In general, cryptologic linguists hold similar degree levels compared to bilingual interpreters. Cryptologic linguists are 4.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of bilingual interpreter
Updated January 8, 2025
