Occupation Summary

Interpreters and Translators

O*NET 27-3091.00

Description:

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

Annual Wages:
$53,703.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 17.73%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
  2. Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
  3. Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
  4. Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
  5. Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
  6. Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
  7. Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
  8. Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
  9. Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
  10. Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
  11. Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
  12. Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
  13. Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.
  14. Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
  15. Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters.
  16. Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
  17. Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Interpreters and Translators employed Annual Growth Rate
Other professional, scientific, and technical services 28.6 1.06
Elementary and secondary schools 15 0.00
General medical and surgical hospitals 6.9 0.21
Offices of physicians 2.4 0.61
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 2.4 0.61
Junior colleges 2 0.00


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $25.82
2024 National average hourly wage $31.22
2022 National employment 68,700
2022 Texas employment 8,173
Texas projected employment by 2032 9,622
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,018




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
93.20%
Foreign Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
82.60%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
77.60%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
67.80%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
64.40%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
61.40%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
60.60%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
58.20%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
51.00%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
50.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
82.40%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
77.60%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
75.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
72.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
72.40%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
62.40%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
62.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
62.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
85.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
82.40%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
77.60%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
77.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
75.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
72.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
62.40%


  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    -- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Audio mixing consoles: Interpreter consoles;

Binoculars: Compact binoculars;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital voice recorders: Digital audio recorders;

Headphones: Headsets;

Microphones: Tie clip microphones;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Pocket calculator: Portable calculators;

Radio frequency transmitters or receivers: Infrared transmission equipment; FM transmission equipment;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;


Technology

Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access;

Dictionary software: Electronic dictionaries;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Foreign language software: jalada GmbH Just Translate; Language Engineering Corporation Translate Pro; Lingoes; ExcelTrans Translator; Google Translate Client; HunterSoft Business Translator; AceTools.biz Ace Translator; Adapt It; AmoK Translator; Ashkon Translation Pad; Babylon Online Translator; DocTranslate; OmegaT; Smart Link Corporation ImTranslator; Stormdance CatsCradle;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software: Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software;

Mobile messaging service software: Intrado SchoolMessenger;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Interpreters and Translators include:
  • 25-3011.00 Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
  • 25-1123.00 English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
  • 25-1124.00 Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
  • 43-9081.00 Proofreaders and Copy Markers
  • 25-2031.00 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
  • 19-4061.00 Social Science Research Assistants
  • 29-1127.00 Speech-Language Pathologists
  • 31-9099.01 Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
  • 27-3042.00 Technical Writers
  • 25-3041.00 Tutors


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about interpreters, visit  
  • Discover Interpreting
  • For more information about interpreter and literary translator specialties, including professional certification, visit: American Translators Association (ATA)
  • Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
  • International Association of Conference Interpreters
  • National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
  • National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
  • National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters
  • National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC)
  • Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
  • For more information about becoming a federal contract interpreter or translator, visit 
  • U.S. State Department
  • Interpreters and Translators

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.