What does a sign language interpreter do?
A sign language interpreter specializes in bridging the communication gap for people with hearing or speaking difficulties using American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages. Interpreters may work for a company or independently; they may also interpret for one-on-one communication or public engagements. The responsibilities of a sign language interpreter depend on the situation or environment. Besides helping clients convey and receive messages, they may also build rapport with clients to make them feel at ease, manage schedules, and perform calls.
Sign language interpreter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sign language interpreter resumes:
- 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.
- Translate and make subtitles in documentary and self produce films.
- Work with students and staff/faculty to interpret sign-to-voice and voice-to sign.
- Interpret Oromo and Amharic for patients those in different clinic and hospitals
- Adhere to company policies and procedures, and HIPAA privacy practices.
- Tutor students in reading, math, science, and social studies.
- Interpret classroom instruction to deaf and deaf-blind students pre-k through high school.
- Follow lesson plans left by the regular teacher, teaching all subject matters grades k-12.
- Render correct concepts/meanings between English and Hindi conveying clarity, tone, and style effectively.
- Provide ASL interpreting services for medical interpreting and religious interpreting including funerals, religious events and services
- Interpret in multiple settings including IEP meetings, tests, assemblies, and different classroom settings.
- Set up equipment and help prepare materials for instruction and IEP meetings under the teacher's guidance.
Sign language interpreter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Sign Language Interpreters are proficient in Customer Service, ASL, and Registry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Cultural sensitivity, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Sign Language Interpreters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 20%
Provide high customer service while interpreting with insurance terminology.
- ASL, 20%
Provided ASL interpreting services for medical interpreting and religious interpreting including funerals, religious events and services
- Registry, 8%
Maintain professional standards as delineated in the Code of Ethics of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
- Patients, 8%
Assisted doctors and patients in information interpretation for clinical diagnoses.
- Sign Language, 6%
Collaborated as a sign language interpreter with deaf education teachers assisting daily to perform duties that included mainstreaming students in hearing classrooms
- English Language, 5%
Converted written materials from both Czech and English language -books, publications or legal documents.
Common skills that a sign language interpreter uses to do their job include "customer service," "asl," and "registry." You can find details on the most important sign language interpreter responsibilities below.
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a sign language interpreter to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "self-employed interpreters and translators must be able to manage their finances." Additionally, a sign language interpreter resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "provided interpretation in variety of settings such as medical appointments, business meetings"
Cultural sensitivity. Many sign language interpreter duties rely on cultural sensitivity. "interpreters and translators must be aware of expectations among the people for whom they are helping to facilitate communication," so a sign language interpreter will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways sign language interpreter responsibilities rely on cultural sensitivity: "managed cultural gaps between the deaf and hearing communities; acted as an advocate for the deaf community. "
Dexterity. This is an important skill for sign language interpreters to perform their duties. For an example of how sign language interpreter responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "sign language interpreters must be able to make quick and coordinated hand, finger, and arm movements when interpreting." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a sign language interpreter: "sign language interperter with both hands with one deaf girl what each teachers says in the each classrooms".
Interpersonal skills. For certain sign language interpreter responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a sign language interpreter rely on this skill, as "interpreters and translators must be able to put clients and others at ease." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sign language interpreters do: "focused on middle-elementary students' language and communication skills in building positive interpersonal relationships. "
Listening skills. Another common skill required for sign language interpreter responsibilities is "listening skills." This skill comes up in the duties of sign language interpreters all the time, as "interpreters must pay attention when interpreting for audiences to ensure that they hear and interpret correctly." An excerpt from a real sign language interpreter resume shows how this skill is central to what a sign language interpreter does: "listen to, comprehend and interpret/translate oral or written communications from english to spanish and vice versa. "
The three companies that hire the most sign language interpreters are:
- Soliant424 sign language interpreters jobs
- ProCare Therapy295 sign language interpreters jobs
- Sorenson233 sign language interpreters jobs
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Compare different sign language interpreters
Sign language interpreter vs. Translator
A translator is an expert of one or multiple languages, responsible for transcribing communication between parties for easy comprehension. Translators often work with written documents, relaying the core context and original message from the source. They should also be able to translate jargon, slang, cultural expressions, and related technical terms in an understandable format, depending on the level of the target audience. A translator must be highly fluent with the language to render ideas accurately, as well as have excellent time-management skills to meet project deadlines.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a sign language interpreter are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "asl," "registry," and "patients." On the other hand, a job as a translator requires skills like "medical terminology," "web pages," "english-language," and "subtitles." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Translators really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $58,098. Comparatively, sign language interpreters tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $56,016.translators tend to reach higher levels of education than sign language interpreters. In fact, translators are 7.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Sign language interpreter vs. Freelance translator
A freelance translator is an independent contractor specializing in translating audio or written materials into a particular language. They primarily communicate with clients to identify their needs and preferences, including project specifications such as deadlines and format. Being a freelance translator means that they can work remotely at their preferred schedule, most of the time, working from home. They are not employed under a company, which is why most freelance translators prepare their own portfolios and create client bases through websites and other platforms.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that sign language interpreter responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "asl," "registry," and "patients." But a freelance translator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "web content," "user manuals," "financial reports," and "subtitles."
In general, freelance translators achieve higher levels of education than sign language interpreters. They're 14.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sign language interpreter vs. Cryptologic linguist
Cryptologic linguists are lingual professionals who are responsible for using signals equipment to identify and analyze foreign communications. These linguists must assist intelligence community analysts in translating open source and sensitive materials as well as producing comprehensive reports about the daily activities of their enemies. They are required to supervise a team of other linguistic professionals to provide transcriptions and analysis from foreign communications. Cryptologic linguists must also identify the languages spoken at target geographic areas of interest.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from sign language interpreter resumes include skills like "customer service," "asl," "registry," and "patients," whereas a cryptologic linguist is more likely to list skills in "tip," "national security," "signals intelligence," and "language training. "
Most cryptologic linguists achieve a similar degree level compared to sign language interpreters. For example, they're 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sign language interpreter vs. Technical translator
Technical Translation is the act of translating materials in a specific technical or scientific subject domain. A Technical Translator understands the nitty-gritty of the subject matter and knows the specialized terms in that field in both the source and secondary languages. This individual works to produce translations and interpretations of either written or oral communications of one language to another for a specific purpose or industry. As a Technical Translator, your duties may include interpreting conferences and emails in an organization.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between sign language interpreters and technical translators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a sign language interpreter might have more use for skills like "customer service," "asl," "registry," and "patients." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of technical translators require skills like "technical translation," "technical manuals," "proofreading," and "user interface. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for technical translators, with average annual pay of $76,753. Comparatively, the highest sign language interpreter annual salary comes from the government industry.The average resume of technical translators showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to sign language interpreters. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 8.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.3%.Types of sign language interpreter
Updated January 8, 2025
