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.
Translator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real translator resumes:
- 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.
- Translate texts from Farsi into English and the opposite.
- Work as part-time translator from Turkish to English and Urdu
- Provide translation of legal texts, English-Spanish and Spanish-English.
- Specialize in medicine, sciences, law, economics.
- Translate from English to Turkish and Farsi to Turkish for foreigners
- Work with internal technicians and LEC to resolve facility issues.
- Provide translating support services to individual and companies in English-Spanish and Spanish-English.
- Support FBI, DEA, DHS and other agencies in fulfilling intelligence requirements.
- Translate during IEP meetings between school personnel and parents and during parent- teacher conferences.
Translator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Translators are proficient in Target Language, Translation Services, and Vice Versa. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Concentration, and Cultural sensitivity.
We break down the percentage of Translators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Target Language, 24%
Maintained a database of information based on limited information derived from materials in the target language.
- Translation Services, 17%
Provide Chinese-English translation services and international publication support on scientific reports and business documents for research institutes and multinational corporations.
- Vice Versa, 9%
Translate patient materials and informational brochures issued by hospitals and medical facilities into Arabic and vice versa.
- Medical Terminology, 5%
Researched necessary medical terminology to ensure that the translations conformed to the original text in terms of technicality and vocabulary.
- Web Pages, 5%
Translated and edited, from Italian to English, official documents and web pages, related to the university.
- English-Language, 4%
Translated and proofread up to 20 English-language films in 3 weeks.
Common skills that a translator uses to do their job include "target language," "translation services," and "vice versa." You can find details on the most important translator responsibilities below.
Business skills. One of the key soft skills for a translator to have is business skills. You can see how this relates to what translators do because "self-employed interpreters and translators must be able to manage their finances." Additionally, a translator resume shows how translators use business skills: "provided english/spanish translation for corporate meetings and business transactions. "
Concentration. Another essential skill to perform translator duties is concentration. Translators responsibilities require that "interpreters and translators must be able to focus while others are speaking or moving around them." Translators also use concentration in their role according to a real resume snippet: "utilized language skills to teach arabic, with a concentration on idioms and nuances of words and expression. "
Cultural sensitivity. translators are also known for cultural sensitivity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to translator responsibilities, because "interpreters and translators must be aware of expectations among the people for whom they are helping to facilitate communication." A translator resume example shows how cultural sensitivity is used in the workplace: "translated company documents from english to japanese and vice versa as well as edited the contents for grammatical and cultural accuracy. "
Dexterity. For certain translator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "dexterity." The day-to-day duties of a translator rely on this skill, as "sign language interpreters must be able to make quick and coordinated hand, finger, and arm movements when interpreting." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what translators do: "interpreted for simultaneous hands-on maintenance and trainings between afghan air force technicians and dyncorp international technicians. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for translator responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of translators all the time, as "interpreters and translators must be able to put clients and others at ease." An excerpt from a real translator resume shows how this skill is central to what a translator does: "devoted to interpersonal skills with strong orientation to customer service. "
Listening skills. Another skill commonly found on translator job descriptions is "listening skills." It can come up quite often in translator duties, since "interpreters must pay attention when interpreting for audiences to ensure that they hear and interpret correctly." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day translator responsibilities: "listened to statements provided by a speaker, prepared the translation from creole to english. "
The three companies that hire the most translators are:
- Leidos12 translators jobs
- Interactive Brokers6 translators jobs
- Century Aluminum5 translators jobs
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Compare different translators
Translator vs. Bilingual interpreter
A bilingual interpreter is responsible for translating communications from one language to another without compromising the focus of the context. Bilingual interpreters manage verbal and written interactions between parties, including the translation of complicated terminologies to comprehensive statements with the same meaning. They should be excellently familiar with the style and structure of their language expertise to translate codes effectively. A bilingual interpreter must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as coordinating with different kinds of people efficiently to assist clients in their daily tasks.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between translators and bilingual interpreter. For instance, translator responsibilities require skills such as "vice versa," "web pages," "english-language," and "subtitles." Whereas a bilingual interpreter is skilled in "patients," "customer service," "medical procedures," and "language services." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Bilingual interpreters earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $67,001. On the other hand, translators are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $58,098.The education levels that bilingual interpreters earn slightly differ from translators. In particular, bilingual interpreters are 5.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a translator. Additionally, they're 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Translator vs. 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. They are required to supervise a team of other linguistic professionals to provide transcriptions and analysis from foreign communications. Cryptologic linguists must also identify the languages spoken at target geographic areas of interest.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real translator resumes. While translator responsibilities can utilize skills like "translation services," "vice versa," "medical terminology," and "web pages," cryptologic linguists use skills like "tip," "national security," "signals intelligence," and "language training."
Cryptologic linguists earn lower levels of education than translators in general. They're 9.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Translator vs. Medical interpreter
Medical Interpreters are healthcare professionals who bridge the communication gap between patients and doctors. They interpret and translate medical findings and results in a language that the patient understands. Medical Interpreters are expected to have a deep understanding of medical terms and procedures to translate the doctor's message to the patient. They should have a deep understanding of the patient's cultural context and background. This would help medical interpreters relate to the patient and gain credibility. They should keep all information they come across confidential.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from translator resumes include skills like "web pages," "english-language," "subtitles," and "hr," whereas a medical interpreter is more likely to list skills in "patients," "customer service," "patient care," and "lep. "
Medical interpreters make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $54,197. On the other hand, translators are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $58,098.When it comes to education, medical interpreters tend to earn similar degree levels compared to translators. In fact, they're 3.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Translator vs. Deaf interpreter
Types of translator
Updated January 8, 2025
