Docent vs interpreter

The differences between docents and interpreters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a docent, becoming an interpreter takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an interpreter has an average salary of $42,008, which is higher than the $40,771 average annual salary of a docent.

The top three skills for a docent include natural history, public speaking and front desk. The most important skills for an interpreter are patients, customer service, and ASL.

Docent vs interpreter overview

	Docent	Interpreter
Yearly salary	$40,771	$42,008
Hourly rate	$19.60	$20.20
Growth rate	12%	20%
Number of jobs	253	3,772
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	34	42
Years of experience	2	4

Docent vs interpreter salary

Docents and interpreters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Docent	Interpreter
Average salary	$40,771	$42,008
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $74,000	Between $29,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City	-	Arlington, VA
Highest paying state	-	Virginia
Best paying company	-	Cottage Health
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between docent and interpreter education

There are a few differences between a docent and an interpreter in terms of educational background:

	Docent	Interpreter
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Fine Arts	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Harvard University

Docent vs interpreter demographics

Here are the differences between docents' and interpreters' demographics:

	Docent	Interpreter
Average age	34	42
Gender ratio	Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0%	Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 9.9% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 32.8% Asian, 17.5% White, 38.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	15%

Differences between docent and interpreter duties and responsibilities

Docent example responsibilities.

Lead VIP guests on guide tours of the property and facilitate their involvement in special events, productions, and conventions.
Inform visitors throughout the aquarium on specific exhibits, animals, and marine wildlife conservation.
Educate aquarium guests on the importance of oceanic conservation, and answer questions concerning the species on display
Control exhibits that require oversight in the financial department.
Train customers in operating Segway personal transport devices and hold entertaining tours.
Conduct tours of the anthropology and paleontology museums * Write/edit exhibit- and art show-relate materials

Interpreter example responsibilities.

Lead an international team of HUMINT collectors for the NATO mission in Bosnia where overt and covert collection protocols are observed.
Perform administrative duties such as filling, scanning, printing and photocopying.
Keep update information on students, families and translate school documents into Hmong.
Serve as a media spokesperson for the ESL department on Spanish radio and television.
Interpret ASL to English, and English to ASL for high profile & complex legal matters.
Serve as French, creole and Spanish interpreter when necessary.- Responsible to take and document vital signs.

Docent vs interpreter skills

Common docent skills

Natural History, 40%
Public Speaking, 10%
Front Desk, 7%
Educational Programs, 6%
Aquarium, 6%
Museum Visitors, 5%

Common interpreter skills

Patients, 24%
Customer Service, 18%
ASL, 10%
Medical Terminology, 8%
LEP, 5%
Sign Language, 4%