How to hire a spanish interpreter

How to hire a spanish interpreter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step spanish interpreter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a spanish interpreter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new spanish interpreter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a spanish interpreter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the spanish interpreter you need to hire. Certain spanish interpreter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A spanish interpreter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, spanish interpreters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of spanish interpreters.

   Type of Spanish Interpreter	Description	Hourly rate
   Spanish Interpreter	Interpreters and translators convert information from one language into another language. Interpreters work in spoken or sign language; translators work in written language.	$13-31
   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... Show more	$12-34
   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... Show more	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Medical Terminology
   • Translation Services
   • Spanish Language
   • Language Services
   • Health Insurance
   • Target Language
   • Law Enforcement
   • Vice Versa
   • Emergency Calls
   • Facilitate Communication
   • Cultural Differences
   • Medical Interpretation
   • Informed Consent

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide accurate Spanish interpretation to LEP in medical, legal and social settings.
   • Serve as a simultaneous interpreter between providers and patients keeping communication efficient by taking consideration of cultural differences between them.
   • Make the LEP feel comfortable enough to honestly and accurately convey information.
   • Create worksheets and design activities to teach an ESL student to read, write, and speak English.
   • Host for the Latino parent meetings at the school with information about the community, resources, and events.
   • Contract by Johannesburg government to interpret for non-English speaking defendants.

   More spanish interpreter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your spanish interpreter job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A spanish interpreter can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, spanish interpreters' average salary in oklahoma is 62% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level spanish interpreters 57% less than senior-level spanish interpreters.
   • Certifications. A spanish interpreter with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a spanish interpreter's salary.

   Average spanish interpreter salary

   $43,067yearly

   $20.71 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level spanish interpreter salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average spanish interpreter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$61,689	$30
   2	Virginia	$55,285	$27
   3	New York	$51,407	$25
   4	Oregon	$49,746	$24
   5	Colorado	$49,725	$24
   6	Maryland	$49,474	$24
   7	Washington	$44,834	$22
   8	Utah	$44,641	$21
   9	Texas	$43,063	$21
   10	Florida	$42,391	$20
   11	Rhode Island	$40,836	$20
   12	Louisiana	$40,551	$20
   13	Minnesota	$40,431	$19
   14	Nebraska	$40,057	$19
   15	Michigan	$38,599	$19
   16	Georgia	$38,196	$18
   17	North Carolina	$37,888	$18
   18	Wisconsin	$37,575	$18
   19	Arizona	$37,106	$18
   20	South Dakota	$34,879	$17

   Average spanish interpreter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.	$72,093	$34.66	1
   2	Atrium Health Floyd	$71,688	$34.47	8
   3	Children's Minnesota	$71,142	$34.20
   4	Froedtert Hospital	$62,383	$29.99	2
   5	Topeka Public Schools	$62,369	$29.99	1
   6	Arkansas Children's Hospital	$60,937	$29.30	4
   7	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$59,417	$28.57
   8	Sinai Chicago	$57,938	$27.85
   9	United States Courts	$57,863	$27.82	6
   10	Primary Health Care Corporation	$57,608	$27.70
   11	Liberty Language	$56,790	$27.30	8
   12	Vidant Health	$55,412	$26.64	1
   13	TransPerfect	$54,821	$26.36	65
   14	University of Rochester	$53,260	$25.61	8
   15	Siouxland Community Health Center	$53,020	$25.49
   16	Brooklyn Defender Services	$52,818	$25.39
   17	Sparrow Health System	$52,650	$25.31
   18	International Rescue Committee	$51,584	$24.80
   19	Amherst College	$51,573	$24.79
   20	Northwestern Medicine	$48,639	$23.38	1

4. Writing a spanish interpreter job description

   A job description for a spanish interpreter role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a spanish interpreter job description:

   Spanish interpreter job description example

   The Spanish Interpreter provides support to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients, families, and medical staff providing care. Administers care to designated patients and provides support to the care team under the direction of the clinical nurse. Serves as the liaison between clinical, medical staff and patients and/or families. Assures care of patients and families is reflective of IU Health's values.
   The ideal candidate will have completed Bridging The Gap training.
   
   Schedule: Thursday & Friday: 8am - 4:30pm, Saturday & Sunday 1am - 1pm
   
   Bachelor's degree preferred.
   
   * Requires Medical Interpreter Certification when available.
   * Requires high level of oral and written fluency in English and target language (i.e. Spanish, American Sign Language, or Burmese languages).
   * Requires knowledge and cultural understanding of target communities (i.e. Hispanic/Latino, deaf, or Burmese communities).
   * Requires knowledge of diverse medical terminology in English and target language. , May require additional training and appropriate certification in language interpretation.
   * Prior interpreting experience in target language (i.e. Spanish, American Sign Languages, or Burmese languages) in a medical setting preferred.
   
   Safeguarding our patients and each other is an important part of how we deliver the best care possible to the communities we serve. As a condition of employment, IU Health requires all new hires to receive various vaccinations, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, barring an approved exemption. New hires will also be provided the option to submit proof of previous vaccination.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at IU Health. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right spanish interpreter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your spanish interpreter job on Zippia to find and recruit spanish interpreter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit spanish interpreters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new spanish interpreter

   Once you've found the spanish interpreter candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new spanish interpreter first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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