Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between freelance translators 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 freelance translator and a language translator. Additionally, a language translator has an average salary of $45,490, which is higher than the $44,736 average annual salary of a freelance translator.
The top three skills for a freelance translator include target language, web content and vice versa. The most important skills for a language translator are proofreading, foreign language, and target language.
| Freelance Translator | Language Translator | |
| Yearly salary | $44,736 | $45,490 |
| Hourly rate | $21.51 | $21.87 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 1,162 | 21,450 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Freelance translators and language translators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Freelance Translator | Language Translator | |
| Average salary | $44,736 | $45,490 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $72,000 | Between $29,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Oregon |
| Best paying company | - | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a freelance translator and a language translator in terms of educational background:
| Freelance Translator | Language Translator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between freelance translators' and language translators' demographics:
| Freelance Translator | Language Translator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 28.0% Asian, 16.3% White, 43.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |