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The differences between medical interpreters 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 medical interpreter and a language translator. Additionally, a language translator has an average salary of $45,490, which is higher than the $43,593 average annual salary of a medical interpreter.
The top three skills for a medical interpreter include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a language translator are proofreading, foreign language, and target language.
| Medical Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,593 | $45,490 |
| Hourly rate | $20.96 | $21.87 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 47,796 | 21,450 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| 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.
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.
Medical interpreters and language translators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Average salary | $43,593 | $45,490 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $29,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | Bloomberg |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a medical interpreter and a language translator in terms of educational background:
| Medical Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | English |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between medical interpreters' and language translators' demographics:
| Medical Interpreter | Language Translator | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.4% Female, 67.6% | Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6% |
| 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, 6.2% 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% |