Per diem interpreter vs court interpreter

The differences between per diem interpreters and court 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 per diem interpreter and a court interpreter. Additionally, a court interpreter has an average salary of $44,300, which is higher than the $42,675 average annual salary of a per diem interpreter.

The top three skills for a per diem interpreter include patients, per diem and customer service. The most important skills for a court interpreter are vice versa, court cases, and court hearings.

Per diem interpreter vs court interpreter overview

	Per Diem Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Yearly salary	$42,675	$44,300
Hourly rate	$20.52	$21.30
Growth rate	20%	20%
Number of jobs	38,934	4,250
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a per diem interpreter do?

A per diem interpreter is responsible for interpreting sign or oral language and translating text from one specific language into another. You will perform several tasks that include adapting translations to students' grade and cognitive levels, working closely with other educational team members when necessary, and proofreading, revising, and editing translated materials. Additionally, you are responsible for translating messages into one language orally using hand signs and explaining translation requirements to clients. As a pier diem interpreter, you are also responsible for checking translated texts for technical terminology.

What does a court interpreter do?

A court interpreter is responsible for translating one language to another in real-time in a courtroom setting. Court interpreters work closely with clients and law officers to relay accurate and reliable information from the actual context. Apart from having excellent communication skills, a court interpreter should also possess extensive knowledge of the legal industry to understand and interpret terms accordingly. They also translate legal documents for court reference. In some cases, a court interpreter may also read the statements beforehand to have a good grasp of courtroom procedures.

Per diem interpreter vs court interpreter salary

Per diem interpreters and court interpreters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Per Diem Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Average salary	$42,675	$44,300
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $68,000	Between $27,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Davis, CA	Central Islip, NY
Highest paying state	New York	New York
Best paying company	Cottage Health	City of Houston
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between per diem interpreter and court interpreter education

There are a few differences between a per diem interpreter and a court interpreter in terms of educational background:

	Per Diem Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Nursing	Business
Most common college	Harvard University	Harvard University

Per diem interpreter vs court interpreter demographics

Here are the differences between per diem interpreters' and court interpreters' demographics:

	Per Diem Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%	Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.5% Asian, 10.8% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 35.4% Asian, 14.1% White, 38.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	15%	15%

Differences between per diem interpreter and court interpreter duties and responsibilities

Per diem interpreter example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
Facilitate communication between LEP patients/families and medical staff by providing accurate and comprehensive interpreter services (person/phone).
Monitor patient EKG patterns while patient is admitted.
Provide education and training while administering a base wide CPR training program.
Assist with documentation, groups, and ADL's for idd/m psych patients.
Serve as a liaison between patients and physicians to assist Somali speaking patients in understanding physician's questions.

Court interpreter example responsibilities.

Coach and teach students to achieve grades at or beyond expect IEP goals.
Assist in court order psychiatric evaluations, DUI assessments, and prison interviews.
Follow all CyraCom policies and procedures relate to information confidentiality and interpreter ethics.
Provide professional interpretation services for individuals with limit English-language proficiency, typically in medical settings
Help to build collaboration with internal and international patients with medical staff, social organizations and insurance companies.
Interpret in court trials, depositions, administrative hearings and arbitrations.

Per diem interpreter vs court interpreter skills

Common per diem interpreter skills

Patients, 37%
Per Diem, 16%
Customer Service, 11%
Acute Care, 4%
CPR, 4%
Rehabilitation, 3%

Common court interpreter skills

Vice Versa, 39%
Court Cases, 18%
Court Hearings, 18%
Spanish Language, 12%
Immigration Court, 3%
Non-English, 2%

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Per Diem Interpreter
Per Diem Interpreter vs Court Interpreter

Updated January 8, 2025

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