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

What is a sign language interpreter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Laura Polhemus Ph.D.

Like other interpreters, sign language interpreters are responsible for fostering communication and understanding between two parties. These professionals work with the deaf or hearing impaired by translating what's been said into sign language. Sign language interpreters can work for TV stations, courtrooms, doctor's offices, and individuals.

A sign language interpreter understands the language spoken well enough to communicate to the relevant audience. The job can be challenging because they have to accommodate for words and phrases that don't necessarily translate.

Sometimes, sign language interpreters have to do research ahead of time when interpreting complicated or technical discussions. They may refer to dictionaries, encyclopedias, or other reliable sources to convey the proper meaning.

To become a sign language interpreter, you need a degree or vocational training. Some universities offer sign language as a foreign language option.

What general advice would you give to a Sign Language Interpreter?

Laura Polhemus Ph.D.

Advanced Assistant Professor, Bethel University

Always be involved with the Deaf community where you live. Go to events, volunteer where appropriate, and seek out ways to be involved. This will grow your ASL skills and your understanding of how to be a good ally. Never stop learning. Listen to podcasts, watch ASL news, read, go to workshops, seek out mentors, and continue to learn and grow to become more knowledgeable of the world and the languages you're using. Give yourself grace and practice self-care. It will take many hours of practice to become an expert, so don't expect that to happen immediately. The biggest difference between experts and novices in this field is that experts know how to see a mistake and turn it around into something that motivates them or sometime they can learn from instead of seeing it only as a negative. Take advantage of massages, counseling, chiropractic services, and other types of self-care to keep yourself healthy physically and mentally.

ScoreSign Language InterpreterUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,655

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.1

Growth Rate 20%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 11.84%

Black or African American 7.00%

Hispanic or Latino 22.93%

Unknown 4.54%

White 53.44%

Gender

female 75.89%

male 24.11%

Age - 40

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 - 40

Stress Level

6.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

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Key steps to become a sign language interpreter

Explore sign language interpreter education requirements

Most common sign language interpreter degrees

Bachelor's

47.7 %

Associate

32.5 %

Master's

8.6 %

Start to develop specific sign language interpreter skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	19.84%
ASL	19.56%
Registry	8.40%
Patients	7.93%
Sign Language	5.92%

Complete relevant sign language interpreter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sign language interpreters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sign language interpreter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sign language interpreter resumes.

Research sign language interpreter duties and responsibilities

Utilize basic ASL medical terminology to provide access and facilitate communication between adult patients and medical staff or doctor.
Provide interpretation services for patients in preparation for procedures, locations and other general information.
Perform consecutive interpretation services over the phone to provide quality interpretation between clients and LEP.
Tutor a deaf student in math and reading.

Prepare your sign language interpreter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sign language interpreter resume.

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