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Conference interpreter vs language translator

The differences between conference 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 conference interpreter and a language translator. Additionally, a language translator has an average salary of $45,490, which is higher than the $44,176 average annual salary of a conference interpreter.

The top three skills for a conference interpreter include police reports, and . The most important skills for a language translator are proofreading, foreign language, and target language.

Conference interpreter vs language translator overview

Conference InterpreterLanguage Translator
Yearly salary$44,176$45,490
Hourly rate$21.24$21.87
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs3,93321,450
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Conference interpreter vs language translator salary

Conference interpreters and language translators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Conference InterpreterLanguage Translator
Average salary$44,176$45,490
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $71,000Between $29,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateOregonOregon
Best paying company-Bloomberg
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between conference interpreter and language translator education

There are a few differences between a conference interpreter and a language translator in terms of educational background:

Conference InterpreterLanguage Translator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorLinguisticsEnglish
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Conference interpreter vs language translator demographics

Here are the differences between conference interpreters' and language translators' demographics:

Conference InterpreterLanguage Translator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 42.0% Female, 58.0%Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 27.6% Asian, 23.2% White, 38.6% 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 Percentage15%15%

Differences between conference interpreter and language translator duties and responsibilities

Conference interpreter example responsibilities.

  • Coach and teach students to achieve grades at or beyond expect IEP goals.
  • Help to build collaboration with internal and international patients with medical staff, social organizations and insurance companies.
  • Follow establish departmental guidelines and protect confidentiality of member's information (HIPPA )

Language translator example responsibilities.

  • Lead an international team of HUMINT collectors for the NATO mission in Bosnia where overt and covert collection protocols are observed.
  • Provide written translations from Dari and Pashto, and some Urdu, into English.
  • Consult employees on proper multicultural etiquette while connecting with Thai, Thai Yai, and Burmese sex workers.
  • Conduct interviews for a study on the male sex work industry and translate the answers from Thai to English.
  • Train soldiers to perform in a combat environment including tactical navigation, military communications, and several types of weapons.
  • Conduct monitoring, translating, transcribing, interpreting, perform translation/transcription, quality control and perform validating services.

Conference interpreter vs language translator skills

Common conference interpreter skills
  • Police Reports, 100%
Common language translator skills
  • Proofreading, 16%
  • Foreign Language, 15%
  • Target Language, 12%
  • Haitian Creole, 10%
  • Thai, 9%
  • Translation Services, 8%

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