Interpreter and translator demographics and statistics in the US
Interpreter and translator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates interpreter and translator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our interpreter and 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 interpreter and translators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 32,263 interpreter and translators currently employed in the United States.
- 48.2% of all interpreter and translators are women, while 51.8% are men.
- The average interpreter and translator age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of interpreter and translators is White (39.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (34.3%), Asian (14.2%) and Black or African American (6.5%).
- Interpreter and translators are most in-demand in Augusta, GA.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for interpreter and translators.
- 15% of all interpreter and translators are LGBT.
On this page
Interpreter and translator demographics by:
Interpreter and translator gender statistics
48.2% of interpreter and translators are women and 51.8% of interpreter and translators are men.
- Male, 51.8%
- Female, 48.2%
Interpreter and translator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 51.8% |
| Female | 48.2% |
Interpreter and translator gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$45,827
Female income
$42,389
Interpreter and translator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in interpreter and translator positions over time. Currently, 48.2% of interpreter and translators are female.
Interpreter and translator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 45.22% | 54.78% |
| 2011 | 51.18% | 48.82% |
| 2012 | 52.52% | 47.48% |
| 2013 | 52.15% | 47.85% |
| 2014 | 53.21% | 46.79% |
| 2015 | 49.19% | 50.81% |
| 2016 | 51.15% | 48.85% |
| 2017 | 51.75% | 48.25% |
| 2018 | 44.05% | 55.95% |
| 2019 | 46.52% | 53.48% |
| 2020 | 43.69% | 56.31% |
| 2021 | 51.81% | 48.19% |
Interpreter and translator related jobs gender ratio
We compared interpreter and 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% |
| Interpreter And Translator | 52% | 48% |
| 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%
Interpreter and translator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among interpreter and translators is White, which makes up 39.3% of all interpreter and translators. Comparatively, 34.3% of interpreter and translators are Hispanic or Latino and 14.2% of interpreter and translators are Asian.
- White, 39.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 34.3%
- Asian, 14.2%
- Black or African American, 6.5%
- Unknown, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Interpreter and translator race
| Interpreter and translator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 39.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 34.3% |
| Asian | 14.2% |
| Black or African American | 6.5% |
| Unknown | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Interpreter and translator race and ethnicity over time
See how interpreter and translator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Interpreter and translator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 47.69% | 7.27% | 10.45% | 30.39% |
| 2011 | 45.10% | 6.03% | 12.16% | 32.06% |
| 2012 | 45.10% | 7.48% | 12.74% | 29.51% |
| 2013 | 47.49% | 6.95% | 11.30% | 29.30% |
| 2014 | 44.54% | 8.83% | 13.66% | 29.24% |
| 2015 | 47.39% | 6.98% | 13.17% | 28.72% |
| 2016 | 45.19% | 6.85% | 13.53% | 30.02% |
| 2017 | 48.63% | 7.30% | 11.69% | 27.95% |
| 2018 | 40.85% | 6.40% | 15.39% | 34.09% |
| 2019 | 47.06% | 6.53% | 12.49% | 29.60% |
| 2020 | 39.90% | 6.49% | 14.77% | 33.37% |
| 2021 | 39.33% | 6.48% | 14.23% | 34.30% |
Interpreter and translator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown interpreter and translators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian interpreter and translators have the lowest average salary at $41,251.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $50,765 |
| White | $47,607 |
| Black or African American | $42,980 |
| Asian | $41,251 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,170 |
Average interpreter and translator age
See how the average age of interpreter and translators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Interpreter and 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 |
Interpreter and translator age breakdown
The average age of interpreter and translators is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the interpreter and translator population.
Interpreter and translator age breakdown
| Interpreter And Translator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Interpreter and translator educational attainment
The most common degree for interpreter and translators is bachelor's degree, with 55% of interpreter and translators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 15% and master's degree degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 55%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Interpreter and translators by degree level
| Interpreter and translator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 55% |
| Master's | 15% |
| Associate | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
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Interpreter and translator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, interpreter and translators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,332 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, interpreter and translators earn a median annual income of $46,277 compared to $46,029 for interpreter and translators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,332 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,598 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,277 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,029 |
Interpreter and translator employment statistics
Most interpreter and translators work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where interpreter and translators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where interpreter and translators work.
Interpreter and translator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 19% |
Interpreter and translator jobs by company type
Employees with the interpreter and translator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most interpreter and translators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Interpreter and translator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 9% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 11% |
Interpreter and translator jobs by industry
The most common industries for interpreter and translators are professional, technology and health care.
Interpreter and translator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 28% |
| Technology | 13% |
| Health Care | 9% |
| Government | 8% |
| Education | 8% |
| Non Profits | 7% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Interpreter and translator turnover and employment statistics
Interpreter and translator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for interpreter and translators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Interpreter and translator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Interpreter and 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 interpreter and translator tenure
The average interpreter and translator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 15,376 interpreter and translators resumes in Zippia's database.
Interpreter and translator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 13% |
Interpreter and translator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of interpreter and 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper Reporter | 10.10% | 2,329 |
| Broadcast Meteorologist | 10.34% | 4,767 |
| Digital Media Internship | 12.01% | 72,449 |
| Multimedia Editor | 12.38% | 10,261 |
| Interpreter And Translator | 14.90% | - |
| Television Writer | 16.36% | 10,231 |
| Train Caller | 16.36% | 2,521 |
Similar interpreter and translator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper Reporter | 10.10% | 2,329 |
| Broadcast Meteorologist | 10.34% | 4,767 |
| Digital Media Internship | 12.01% | 72,449 |
| Multimedia Editor | 12.38% | 10,261 |
| Television Writer | 16.36% | 10,231 |
| Train Caller | 16.36% | 2,521 |
Foreign languages spoken by interpreter and translators
The most common foreign language among interpreter and translators is Spanish at 29.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Arabic at 10.7% and French is the third-most popular at 10.3%.
- Spanish, 29.8%
- Arabic, 10.7%
- French, 10.3%
- Russian, 7.2%
- Chinese, 4.8%
- Other, 37.2%
Interpreter and translator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 29.8% |
| Arabic | 10.7% |
| French | 10.3% |
| Russian | 7.2% |
| Chinese | 4.8% |
| Other | 37.2% |
