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Staff interpreter vs freelance translator

The differences between staff interpreters and freelance translators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a staff interpreter and a freelance translator. Additionally, a freelance translator has an average salary of $44,736, which is higher than the $43,714 average annual salary of a staff interpreter.

The top three skills for a staff interpreter include ASL, mental health and interpretation services. The most important skills for a freelance translator are target language, web content, and vice versa.

Staff interpreter vs freelance translator overview

Staff InterpreterFreelance Translator
Yearly salary$43,714$44,736
Hourly rate$21.02$21.51
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs71,8001,162
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Staff interpreter vs freelance translator salary

Staff interpreters and freelance translators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff InterpreterFreelance Translator
Average salary$43,714$44,736
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $70,000Between $27,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between staff interpreter and freelance translator education

There are a few differences between a staff interpreter and a freelance translator in terms of educational background:

Staff InterpreterFreelance Translator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorAmerican Sign LanguageEnglish
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Staff interpreter vs freelance translator demographics

Here are the differences between staff interpreters' and freelance translators' demographics:

Staff InterpreterFreelance Translator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 24.5% Female, 75.5%Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 28.0% Asian, 16.3% White, 43.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between staff interpreter and freelance translator duties and responsibilities

Staff interpreter example responsibilities.

  • Help to build collaboration with internal and international patients with medical staff, social organizations and insurance companies.
  • Create education and promotional materials relate to Latino health and wellness.

Freelance translator example responsibilities.

  • Manage proofreading, typesetting, and editing of English/Spanish projects.
  • Translate technical documents in various formats using TRADOS.
  • Assist LEP patients to access a full range of services available.
  • Translate Thai to English for children's books publish for sale in Thailand.
  • Learned how to use basic and advance translation tools including TRADOS and Passalo.
  • Provide excellent interpretation for both the LEP as for the English speaking healthcare professional.
  • Show more

Staff interpreter vs freelance translator skills

Common staff interpreter skills
  • ASL, 38%
  • Mental Health, 18%
  • Interpretation Services, 12%
  • Sign Language, 11%
  • LEP, 8%
  • Social Services, 6%
Common freelance translator skills
  • Target Language, 15%
  • Web Content, 13%
  • Vice Versa, 8%
  • User Manuals, 7%
  • Financial Reports, 6%
  • Subtitles, 5%

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