How To Become A Language Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a language specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Steven Thomas Ph.D.,

Bastian Heinsohn Ph.D.

Language specialists are responsible for interpreting and translating spoken and written words. They are tasked with correctly interpreting or translating the original meaning. Basically, they transfer the thoughts in a written format and the ideas involved in it from one language to another. They are also involved in developing and improving the learning style and facilitating professional development. Language specialists earn an average sum of $26 per hour, which amounts to roughly $54,000 per year.

Language specialists primarily ensure that the basic meaning that needs to be conveyed should be communicated effectively. They play a crucial role in delivering effective and efficient support necessary to meet the needs while creating supporting material and gathering additional instructional resources. They need to be fluent in both the source and target language and capture both the technical and intended meaning, taking into account style, tone, slang, and figurative communication.

Language specialists typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, but a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, English, or other related fields can be beneficial. They are expected to demonstrate fluency in at least two languages and have near-native fluency in the source tongue.

What general advice would you give to a language specialist?

Dr. Steven Thomas Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Wagner College

The rapidly changing job market will demand the future workforce be able to think on their feet and communicate clearly. These are exactly the skills one develops in the English major

ScoreLanguage SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,084

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.2

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 15.97%

Black or African American 6.69%

Hispanic or Latino 9.57%

Unknown 4.86%

White 62.64%

Gender

female 60.77%

male 39.23%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a language specialist

Explore language specialist education requirements

Most common language specialist degrees

Bachelor's

56.2 %

Master's

26.6 %

Associate

7.1 %

Start to develop specific language specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
English Language	13.52%
Language	13.22%
Foreign Language	7.85%
Proofreading	7.02%
Professional Development	5.92%

Research language specialist duties and responsibilities

Supervise and manage class; facilitate and teach conversational Tagalog including cultural aspects.
Administer speech and language treatment to students with learning disabilities, developmental delays, specific language impairments, and autism.
Service children Pre-k through 6th grade.
Evaluate and treat public school age children with pervasive developmental disorders and autism.

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