Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between medical interpreters and educational interpreters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a medical interpreter and an educational interpreter. Additionally, a medical interpreter has an average salary of $43,593, which is higher than the $39,807 average annual salary of an educational interpreter.
The top three skills for a medical interpreter include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for an educational interpreter are EIPA, facilitate communication, and math.
| Medical Interpreter | Educational Interpreter | |
| Yearly salary | $43,593 | $39,807 |
| Hourly rate | $20.96 | $19.14 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 47,796 | 5,541 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Medical Interpreters are healthcare professionals who bridge the communication gap between patients and doctors. They interpret and translate medical findings and results in a language that the patient understands. Medical Interpreters are expected to have a deep understanding of medical terms and procedures to translate the doctor's message to the patient. They should have a deep understanding of the patient's cultural context and background. This would help medical interpreters relate to the patient and gain credibility. They should keep all information they come across confidential.
An educational interpreter specializes in providing communication assistance to students with hearing problems or difficulty in understanding the language. It is their duty to develop strategies to convey lessons through various materials and efforts, interpret messages from the speaker and receiver, and monitoring the student's progress. They may also produce progress reports, coordinating with teachers and parents at all times. Furthermore, an educational interpreter must build a positive relationship with the student, helping them feel comfortable as they adjust to the classroom environment.
Medical interpreters and educational interpreters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Interpreter | Educational Interpreter | |
| Average salary | $43,593 | $39,807 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $25,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Vallejo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | Irving Isd |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a medical interpreter and an educational interpreter in terms of educational background:
| Medical Interpreter | Educational Interpreter | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | American Sign Language |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between medical interpreters' and educational interpreters' demographics:
| Medical Interpreter | Educational Interpreter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.4% Female, 67.6% | Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 35.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 39.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 10.3% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |