Language translator demographics and statistics in the US
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Language translator demographics by:
Language translator gender statistics
60.6% of language translators are women and 39.4% of language translators are men.
- Female, 60.6%
- Male, 39.4%
Language translator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 60.6% |
| Male | 39.4% |
Language translator gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$47,373
Female income
$44,062
Language translator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in language translator positions over time. Currently, 60.6% of language translators are female.
Language translator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 33.34% | 66.66% |
| 2011 | 38.84% | 61.16% |
| 2012 | 40.12% | 59.88% |
| 2013 | 39.77% | 60.23% |
| 2014 | 40.79% | 59.21% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 63.03% |
| 2016 | 38.81% | 61.19% |
| 2017 | 39.38% | 60.62% |
| 2018 | 32.29% | 67.71% |
| 2019 | 34.51% | 65.49% |
| 2020 | 31.98% | 68.02% |
| 2021 | 39.44% | 60.56% |
Language translator related jobs gender ratio
We compared language 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% |
| Language Translator | 39% | 61% |
| 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%
Language translator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among language translators is White, which makes up 38.5% of all language translators. Comparatively, 31.5% of language translators are Hispanic or Latino and 18.0% of language translators are Asian.
- White, 38.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 31.5%
- Asian, 18.0%
- Black or African American, 6.2%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Language translator race
| Language translator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 38.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31.5% |
| Asian | 18.0% |
| Black or African American | 6.2% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Language translator race and ethnicity over time
See how language translator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Language translator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.83% | 6.98% | 14.21% | 27.62% |
| 2011 | 44.24% | 5.73% | 15.91% | 29.29% |
| 2012 | 44.24% | 7.18% | 16.49% | 26.74% |
| 2013 | 46.63% | 6.66% | 15.06% | 26.53% |
| 2014 | 43.68% | 8.54% | 17.42% | 26.47% |
| 2015 | 46.53% | 6.69% | 16.93% | 25.95% |
| 2016 | 44.33% | 6.56% | 17.28% | 27.26% |
| 2017 | 47.77% | 7.01% | 15.44% | 25.19% |
| 2018 | 39.99% | 6.11% | 19.15% | 31.32% |
| 2019 | 46.20% | 6.24% | 16.25% | 26.84% |
| 2020 | 39.04% | 6.20% | 18.52% | 30.60% |
| 2021 | 38.47% | 6.19% | 17.99% | 31.53% |
Language translator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown language translators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian language translators have the lowest average salary at $42,961.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $52,098 |
| White | $49,081 |
| Black or African American | $44,632 |
| Asian | $42,961 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $48,661 |
Average language translator age
See how the average age of language translators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Language 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 |
Language translator age breakdown
The average age of language translators is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the language translator population.
Language translator age breakdown
| Language Translator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Language translator educational attainment
The most common degree for language translators is bachelor's degree, with 58% of language 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 9%.
- Bachelor's, 58%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 9%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 13%
Language translators by degree level
| Language translator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 58% |
| Master's | 15% |
| Associate | 9% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 13% |
Language translator jobs you might like
Language translator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, language translators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $51,685 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, language translators earn a median annual income of $47,805 compared to $47,567 for language translators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $51,685 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,297 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,805 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,567 |
Language translator employment statistics
Most language translators work for a private in the education industry.
Company size where language translators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where language translators work.
Language translator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 20% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 20% |
Language translator jobs by company type
Employees with the language translator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most language translators prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Language translator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 25% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 48% |
| Government | 10% |
Language translator jobs by industry
The most common industries for language translators are education, professional and technology.
Language translator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 22% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Government | 7% |
| Non Profits | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Media | 6% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Language translator turnover and employment statistics
Language translator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for language translators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Language translator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Language 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 language translator tenure
The average language translator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 400 language translators resumes in Zippia's database.
Language translator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 13% |
Language translator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of language 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Reporter | 10.10% | 28,255 |
| Radio Performer | 10.34% | 2,303 |
| Media Center Specialist | 12.01% | 43,152 |
| Magazine Editor | 12.38% | 11,364 |
| Language Translator | 14.90% | - |
| Writer/Director | 16.36% | 14,774 |
| Track Announcer | 16.36% | 736 |
Similar language translator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Reporter | 10.10% | 28,255 |
| Radio Performer | 10.34% | 2,303 |
| Media Center Specialist | 12.01% | 43,152 |
| Magazine Editor | 12.38% | 11,364 |
| Writer/Director | 16.36% | 14,774 |
| Track Announcer | 16.36% | 736 |
Foreign languages spoken by language translators
The most common foreign language among language translators is Spanish at 33.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.5% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 6.1%.
- Spanish, 33.1%
- French, 13.5%
- Portuguese, 6.1%
- German, 6.1%
- Italian, 5.5%
- Other, 35.7%
Language translator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 33.1% |
| French | 13.5% |
| Portuguese | 6.1% |
| German | 6.1% |
| Italian | 5.5% |
| Other | 35.7% |
