Freelance translator demographics and statistics in the US
Freelance translator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates freelance translator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our freelance translator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about freelance translators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 12,560 freelance translators currently employed in the United States.
- 65.5% of all freelance translators are women, while 34.5% are men.
- The average freelance translator age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of freelance translators is White (43.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (28.0%), Asian (16.3%) and Black or African American (7.1%).
- In 2022, women earned 92% of what men earned.
- 15% of all freelance translators are LGBT.
- Freelance translators are 74% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
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Freelance translator demographics by:
Freelance translator gender statistics
65.5% of freelance translators are women and 34.5% of freelance translators are men.
- Female, 65.5%
- Male, 34.5%
Freelance translator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 65.5% |
| Male | 34.5% |
Freelance translator gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,796
Female income
$43,179
Freelance translator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in freelance translator positions over time. Currently, 65.5% of freelance translators are female.
Freelance translator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 28.76% | 71.24% |
| 2011 | 33.89% | 66.11% |
| 2012 | 35.10% | 64.90% |
| 2013 | 34.77% | 65.23% |
| 2014 | 35.74% | 64.26% |
| 2015 | 32.13% | 67.87% |
| 2016 | 33.86% | 66.14% |
| 2017 | 34.40% | 65.60% |
| 2018 | 27.80% | 72.20% |
| 2019 | 29.84% | 70.16% |
| 2020 | 27.51% | 72.49% |
| 2021 | 34.45% | 65.55% |
Freelance translator related jobs gender ratio
We compared freelance translators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public address announcer and track announcer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Paraprofessional Interpreter | 12% | 88% |
| Deaf Interpreter | 15% | 85% |
| Fashion Journalist | 15% | 85% |
| Freelance Translator | 34% | 66% |
| Sports Announcer | 91% | 9% |
| Track Announcer | 92% | 8% |
| Public Address Announcer | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Freelance translator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among freelance translators is White, which makes up 43.5% of all freelance translators. Comparatively, 28.0% of freelance translators are Hispanic or Latino and 16.3% of freelance translators are Asian.
- White, 43.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 28.0%
- Asian, 16.3%
- Black or African American, 7.1%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Freelance translator race
| Freelance translator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 43.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 28.0% |
| Asian | 16.3% |
| Black or African American | 7.1% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Freelance translator race and ethnicity over time
See how freelance translator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Freelance translator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51.82% | 7.87% | 12.56% | 24.08% |
| 2011 | 49.24% | 6.62% | 14.27% | 25.75% |
| 2012 | 49.23% | 8.07% | 14.84% | 23.20% |
| 2013 | 51.62% | 7.55% | 13.41% | 22.99% |
| 2014 | 48.67% | 9.43% | 15.77% | 22.93% |
| 2015 | 51.53% | 7.58% | 15.28% | 22.41% |
| 2016 | 49.32% | 7.45% | 15.63% | 23.71% |
| 2017 | 52.76% | 7.90% | 13.79% | 21.64% |
| 2018 | 44.99% | 7.00% | 17.50% | 27.78% |
| 2019 | 51.19% | 7.13% | 14.60% | 23.29% |
| 2020 | 44.04% | 7.09% | 16.87% | 27.06% |
| 2021 | 43.46% | 7.08% | 16.34% | 27.99% |
Freelance translator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown freelance translators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian freelance translators have the lowest average salary at $41,983.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $52,006 |
| White | $48,673 |
| Black or African American | $43,800 |
| Asian | $41,983 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $48,211 |
Average freelance translator age
See how the average age of freelance translators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Freelance translator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | |
| White | 36 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 39 | |
| Asian | 48.5 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 42 |
Freelance translator age breakdown
The average age of freelance translators is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the freelance translator population.
Freelance translator age breakdown
| Freelance Translator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Freelance translator educational attainment
The most common degree for freelance translators is bachelor's degree, with 60% of freelance translators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 23% and master's degree degree at 6%.
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Master's, 23%
- Associate, 6%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Freelance translators by degree level
| Freelance translator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 60% |
| Master's | 23% |
| Associate | 6% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Freelance translator jobs you might like
Freelance translator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, freelance translators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $51,548 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, freelance translators earn a median annual income of $47,270 compared to $47,009 for freelance translators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $51,548 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,348 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,270 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,009 |
Freelance translator employment statistics
Most freelance translators work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where freelance translators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where freelance translators work.
Freelance translator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 15% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 18% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Freelance translator jobs by company type
Employees with the freelance translator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most freelance translators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Freelance translator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 74% |
| Government | 5% |
Freelance translator jobs by industry
The most common industries for freelance translators are professional, media and technology.
Freelance translator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 19% |
| Media | 17% |
| Technology | 9% |
| Education | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Government | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Freelance translator turnover and employment statistics
Freelance translator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for freelance translators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Freelance translator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Freelance translator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.66% |
| 2011 | 6.79% |
| 2012 | 6.36% |
| 2013 | 6.86% |
| 2014 | 5.89% |
| 2015 | 4.90% |
| 2016 | 3.75% |
| 2017 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | 3.95% |
| 2019 | 4.57% |
| 2020 | 6.35% |
| 2021 | 6.78% |
Average freelance translator tenure
The average freelance translator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,959 freelance translators resumes in Zippia's database.
Freelance translator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 13% |
| 1-2 years | 19% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 19% |
| 8-10 years | 10% |
| 11+ years | 28% |
Freelance translator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of freelance translators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Contributing Reporter | 10.10% | 1,783 |
| Radio Disk Jockey | 10.34% | 4,111 |
| Digital Media Assistant | 12.01% | 25,678 |
| Society Editor | 12.38% | 4,439 |
| Freelance Translator | 14.90% | - |
| Blogger, Founder | 16.36% | 937 |
| Ringmaster | 16.36% | 66 |
Similar freelance translator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Contributing Reporter | 10.10% | 1,783 |
| Radio Disk Jockey | 10.34% | 4,111 |
| Digital Media Assistant | 12.01% | 25,678 |
| Society Editor | 12.38% | 4,439 |
| Blogger, Founder | 16.36% | 937 |
| Ringmaster | 16.36% | 66 |
Foreign languages spoken by freelance translators
The most common foreign language among freelance translators is Spanish at 27.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 15.3% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 8.5%.
- Spanish, 27.3%
- French, 15.3%
- Japanese, 8.5%
- German, 7.5%
- Russian, 7.3%
- Other, 34.1%
Freelance translator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 27.3% |
| French | 15.3% |
| Japanese | 8.5% |
| German | 7.5% |
| Russian | 7.3% |
| Other | 34.1% |
