Translator demographics and statistics in the US
Translator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates translator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our translator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about translators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 25,229 translators currently employed in the United States.
- 61.6% of all translators are women, while 38.4% are men.
- The average translator age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of translators is White (37.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (32.0%), Asian (18.4%) and Black or African American (6.1%).
- Translators are most in-demand in Greenwich, CT.
- Washington, DC pays an annual average wage of $79,490, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women translators earned 93% of what men earned.
- District of Columbia is the best state for translators to live.
- Translators are 54% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Translator demographics by:
Translator gender statistics
61.6% of translators are women and 38.4% of translators are men.
- Female, 61.6%
- Male, 38.4%
Translator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 61.6% |
| Male | 38.4% |
Translator gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,249
Female income
$42,787
Translator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in translator positions over time. Currently, 61.6% of translators are female.
Translator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32.34% | 67.66% |
| 2011 | 37.77% | 62.23% |
| 2012 | 39.04% | 60.96% |
| 2013 | 38.69% | 61.31% |
| 2014 | 39.71% | 60.29% |
| 2015 | 35.92% | 64.08% |
| 2016 | 37.74% | 62.26% |
| 2017 | 38.31% | 61.69% |
| 2018 | 31.31% | 68.69% |
| 2019 | 33.50% | 66.50% |
| 2020 | 31.00% | 69.00% |
| 2021 | 38.36% | 61.64% |
Translator related jobs gender ratio
We compared translators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, public address announcer and track announcer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Paraprofessional Interpreter | 12% | 88% |
| Deaf Interpreter | 15% | 85% |
| Fashion Journalist | 15% | 85% |
| Translator | 38% | 62% |
| Sports Announcer | 91% | 9% |
| Track Announcer | 92% | 8% |
| Public Address Announcer | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Translator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among translators is White, which makes up 37.9% of all translators. Comparatively, 32.0% of translators are Hispanic or Latino and 18.4% of translators are Asian.
- White, 37.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 32.0%
- Asian, 18.4%
- Black or African American, 6.1%
- Unknown, 5.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Translator race
| Translator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 37.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 32.0% |
| Asian | 18.4% |
| Black or African American | 6.1% |
| Unknown | 5.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Translator race and ethnicity over time
See how translator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Translator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 46.27% | 6.92% | 14.65% | 28.09% |
| 2011 | 43.69% | 5.67% | 16.35% | 29.76% |
| 2012 | 43.68% | 7.12% | 16.93% | 27.21% |
| 2013 | 46.07% | 6.60% | 15.50% | 27.00% |
| 2014 | 43.12% | 8.48% | 17.86% | 26.94% |
| 2015 | 45.98% | 6.63% | 17.37% | 26.42% |
| 2016 | 43.77% | 6.50% | 17.72% | 27.72% |
| 2017 | 47.21% | 6.95% | 15.88% | 25.65% |
| 2018 | 39.44% | 6.05% | 19.59% | 31.79% |
| 2019 | 45.64% | 6.18% | 16.69% | 27.30% |
| 2020 | 38.48% | 6.14% | 18.96% | 31.07% |
| 2021 | 37.91% | 6.13% | 18.43% | 32.00% |
Translator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown translators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian translators have the lowest average salary at $41,640.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $51,221 |
| White | $48,042 |
| Black or African American | $43,382 |
| Asian | $41,640 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,601 |
Average translator age
See how the average age of translators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Translator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 44 | |
| White | 36 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 39 | |
| Asian | 48.5 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 42 |
Translator age breakdown
The average age of translators is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the translator population.
Translator age breakdown
| Translator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Translator educational attainment
The most common degree for translators is bachelor's degree, with 60% of translators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 16% and master's degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Translators by degree level
| Translator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 60% |
| Master's | 16% |
| Associate | 9% |
| High School Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Translator jobs you might like
Translator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, translators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,785 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, translators earn a median annual income of $46,702 compared to $46,453 for translators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,785 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,990 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,702 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,453 |
Translator employment statistics
Most translators work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where translators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where translators work.
Translator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 24% |
Translator jobs by company type
Employees with the translator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most translators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Translator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 18% |
| Public | 21% |
| Private | 54% |
| Government | 8% |
Translator jobs by industry
The most common industries for translators are professional, education and non profits.
Translator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 16% |
| Education | 14% |
| Non Profits | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Media | 5% |
| Government | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Translator turnover and employment statistics
Translator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for translators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Translator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Translator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.66% |
| 2011 | 6.79% |
| 2012 | 6.36% |
| 2013 | 6.86% |
| 2014 | 5.89% |
| 2015 | 4.90% |
| 2016 | 3.75% |
| 2017 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | 3.95% |
| 2019 | 4.57% |
| 2020 | 6.35% |
| 2021 | 6.78% |
Average translator tenure
The average translator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 15,450 translators resumes in Zippia's database.
Translator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 31% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Translator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of translators that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Headline Writer | 10.10% | 10,192 |
| Anchor/Producer | 10.34% | 10,037 |
| Communications Associate | 12.01% | 21,721 |
| Assignment Editor | 12.38% | 11,919 |
| Translator | 14.90% | - |
| Greeting Card Writer | 16.36% | 10,264 |
| Disc Jockey | 16.36% | 1,991 |
Similar translator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Headline Writer | 10.10% | 10,192 |
| Anchor/Producer | 10.34% | 10,037 |
| Communications Associate | 12.01% | 21,721 |
| Assignment Editor | 12.38% | 11,919 |
| Greeting Card Writer | 16.36% | 10,264 |
| Disc Jockey | 16.36% | 1,991 |
Foreign languages spoken by translators
The most common foreign language among translators is Spanish at 32.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.7% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 7.7%.
- Spanish, 32.6%
- French, 12.7%
- Chinese, 7.7%
- Japanese, 6.8%
- Russian, 5.6%
- Other, 34.6%
Translator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 32.6% |
| French | 12.7% |
| Chinese | 7.7% |
| Japanese | 6.8% |
| Russian | 5.6% |
| Other | 34.6% |
