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

What is a sign language translator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Mary High

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a sign language translator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.88 an hour? That's $45,518 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 20% and produce 14,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a sign language translator?

Dr. Mary High

Associate Professor of American Sign Language Director of the ASL Program, Gardner-Webb University

A BA degree in ASL gives you the language and cultural knowledge to work with deaf people, but there are usually additional requirements, depending on the type of work you want. Interpreting is available at the BA level and the ASL degree, so it is the easiest to find a job immediately after graduation. I usually encourage students who think they want a career in another area also to get their training in interpreting if they can't go to grad school immediately or need to support themselves while in graduate school. Interpreting often has a flexible schedule that will allow you to go to grad school, and pays much better than most other part-time work.

ScoreSign Language TranslatorUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $45,518

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.1

Growth rate 20%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 14.44%

Black or African American 4.18%

Hispanic or Latino 35.26%

Unknown 4.26%

White 41.64%

Gender

female 78.57%

male 21.43%

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

Key steps to become a sign language translator

Explore sign language translator education requirements

Most common sign language translator degrees

Bachelor's

57.7 %

Master's

19.2 %

Associate

11.5 %

Start to develop specific sign language translator skills

Skills	Percentages
American Sign Language	49.37%
Registry	26.16%
Emergency Situations	24.46%

Complete relevant sign language translator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sign language translators 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 translator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sign language translator resumes.

Research sign language translator duties and responsibilities

Provide effective communication by making important connection between patients, families and providers in clinical and hospital settings.
Develop syllabus and overall class curriculum.

Prepare your sign language translator resume

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

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