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Translator vs interpreter and translator

The differences between translators and interpreter and 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 translator and an interpreter and translator. Additionally, a translator has an average salary of $44,278, which is higher than the $43,870 average annual salary of an interpreter and translator.

The top three skills for a translator include target language, translation services and vice versa. The most important skills for an interpreter and translator are transcription, english language, and security clearance.

Translator vs interpreter and translator overview

TranslatorInterpreter And Translator
Yearly salary$44,278$43,870
Hourly rate$21.29$21.09
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs1,2063,787
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a translator do?

A translator is an expert of one or multiple languages, responsible for transcribing communication between parties for easy comprehension. Translators often work with written documents, relaying the core context and original message from the source. They should also be able to translate jargon, slang, cultural expressions, and related technical terms in an understandable format, depending on the level of the target audience. A translator must be highly fluent with the language to render ideas accurately, as well as have excellent time-management skills to meet project deadlines.

What does an interpreter and translator do?

An interpreter and translator are language experts responsible for translating one language to another for communicative purposes and context comprehension in the highest accuracy. Interpreters and translators must ensure that the translations keep the core message of the speaker or author's statement, including the proper interpretation of terminologies for the target audience. An interpreter and translator should also observe strict grammar rules and composition structures to maintain context integrity. They should have excellent communication skills, especially in the aspects of listening, writing, and speaking crucial for this kind of expertise.

Translator vs interpreter and translator salary

Translators and interpreter and translators have different pay scales, as shown below.

TranslatorInterpreter And Translator
Average salary$44,278$43,870
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $70,000Between $27,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkVirginia
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between translator and interpreter and translator education

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

TranslatorInterpreter And Translator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorEnglishEnglish
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Translator vs interpreter and translator demographics

Here are the differences between translators' and interpreter and translators' demographics:

TranslatorInterpreter And Translator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 38.4% Female, 61.6%Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 32.0% Asian, 18.4% White, 37.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 34.3% Asian, 14.2% White, 39.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between translator and interpreter and translator duties and responsibilities

Translator example responsibilities.

  • Manage proofreading, typesetting, and editing of English/Spanish projects.
  • Lead an international team of HUMINT collectors for the NATO mission in Bosnia where overt and covert collection protocols are observed.
  • Translate scripts for 2D and 3D animations from English into Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.
  • Translate patient materials and informational brochures issue by hospitals and medical facilities into another language.
  • Conduct research on Turkish tourism.
  • Translate tourism articles from English to Chinese.
  • Show more

Interpreter and translator example responsibilities.

  • Coach and teach students to achieve grades at or beyond expect IEP goals.
  • Lead an international team of HUMINT collectors for the NATO mission in Bosnia where overt and covert collection protocols are observed.
  • Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
  • Provide foreign language support services, including transcription, and translation / interpretation services in support of military operations.
  • Carry out assignments within the intelligence community in the capacity of Linguist/Interrogator in the Thai language.
  • Provide written translation of general and technical material into and from the Urdu language to English, and English into Urdu.
  • Show more

Translator vs interpreter and translator skills

Common translator skills
  • Target Language, 24%
  • Translation Services, 17%
  • Vice Versa, 9%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%
  • Web Pages, 5%
  • English-Language, 4%
Common interpreter and translator skills
  • Transcription, 13%
  • English Language, 12%
  • Security Clearance, 12%
  • Law Enforcement, 12%
  • Target Language, 10%
  • Vice Versa, 4%

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