Spanish interpreter vs court interpreter

The differences between spanish 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 spanish interpreter and a court interpreter. Additionally, a court interpreter has an average salary of $44,300, which is higher than the $43,067 average annual salary of a spanish interpreter.

The top three skills for a spanish interpreter include patients, medical terminology and translation services. The most important skills for a court interpreter are vice versa, court cases, and court hearings.

Spanish interpreter vs court interpreter overview

	Spanish Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Yearly salary	$43,067	$44,300
Hourly rate	$20.71	$21.30
Growth rate	20%	20%
Number of jobs	4,043	4,250
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	4	4

What does a spanish interpreter do?

A Spanish interpreter specializes in orally translating Spanish to English language and vice-versa, primarily to bridge the communication gap from one person to another. Their responsibilities typically revolve around meeting with clients to determine their preferences, keeping conversations confidential, conversing according to the purpose of events, and translating documents or written materials when necessary. A Spanish interpreter may also work independently or for a company. Furthermore, it is essential to remain professional and build rapport with clients to establish a strong client base.

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.

Spanish interpreter vs court interpreter salary

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

	Spanish Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Average salary	$43,067	$44,300
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $65,000	Between $27,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Alameda, CA	Central Islip, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc.	City of Houston
Best paying industry	Professional	Government

Differences between spanish interpreter and court interpreter education

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

	Spanish Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Harvard University	Harvard University

Spanish interpreter vs court interpreter demographics

Here are the differences between spanish interpreters' and court interpreters' demographics:

	Spanish Interpreter	Court Interpreter
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%	Male, 40.9% Female, 59.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 47.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 36.4% 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 spanish interpreter and court interpreter duties and responsibilities

Spanish interpreter example 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.

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.

Spanish interpreter vs court interpreter skills

Common spanish interpreter skills

Patients, 41%
Medical Terminology, 13%
Translation Services, 4%
Spanish Language, 3%
Language Services, 3%
Health Insurance, 2%

Common court interpreter skills

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

Spanish Interpreter vs. similar jobs

Spanish Interpreter related careers

Spanish Interpreter related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Industry
Spanish Interpreter
Spanish Interpreter vs Court Interpreter

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs