Interpreters and Translators in Washington
Want to work as an Interpreters and Translators in Washington? Below are the key facts. Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
What do Interpreters and Translators Make in Washington?
The interpreters and translators working in Washington, the median annual wage is $69,620 per year (or roughly $33.47/hour).Earnings range from $46,640 at the 10th percentile to $99,650 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| 25th percentile | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Median (50th) | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 75th percentile | $98,550 | $47.38 |
| 90th percentile | $99,650 | $47.91 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington nationwide is 1.32, suggesting that interpreters and translators are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, interpreters and translators earn a median of $52,627 per year ($25.30/hour), higher than the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 378,567 interpreters and translators in the U.S.. In Washington alone, about 1,620 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 540 interpreters and translators.
Top Washington Metros for Interpreters and Translators
The largest metro-area employers of interpreters and translators in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,120 | $75,730 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 50 | $49,130 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 30 | $59,120 |
Top States for Interpreters and Translators Employment
The table below shows the states where the most interpreters and translators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 6,710 |
| Texas | 5,820 |
| Florida | 4,500 |
| New York | 3,650 |
| Virginia | 2,610 |
| Massachusetts | 2,250 |
| Arizona | 2,040 |
| Illinois | 1,860 |
| North Carolina | 1,800 |
| Georgia | 1,730 |
| Ohio | 1,670 |
| Washington | 1,620 |
| Oregon | 1,220 |
| Wisconsin | 1,190 |
| New Jersey | 1,090 |
| Minnesota | 1,060 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,050 |
| Indiana | 990 |
| Colorado | 890 |
| Maryland | 870 |
Highest-Paying States for Interpreters and Translators
The highest-paying states for interpreters and translators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $84,650 |
| District of Columbia | $81,140 |
| Maryland | $78,350 |
| Virginia | $74,250 |
| California | $73,510 |
| Washington | $69,620 |
| Colorado | $66,590 |
| Utah | $65,990 |
| Massachusetts | $65,490 |
| West Virginia | $63,750 |
Skills
The most important interpreters and translators skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for interpreters and translators, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Interpreters and Translators typically:
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
- Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
- Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
- Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
- Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
- Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
- Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters.
Work Activities
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Getting Information
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Hypertext markup language HTML In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Romance Languages
- Linguistics & Literature
- American Sign Language
- East Asian Languages
- Classical Languages & Literature
- Germanic Languages
- Other Foreign Language & Literature
- Middle Eastern Semitic Languages
- Slavic, Baltic & Albanian Languages
- Native American Languages
- Southeast Asian & Pacific Languages
- South Asian Languages
- Celtic Language & Literature
- African Languages
- Iranian & Persian Languages
- Greek Language & Literature
- Turkic & Central Asian Languages
- Armenian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Ethnic Studies
- History and Language/Literature
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
- Special Education
- Legal Support Services
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Related Careers
Careers similar to interpreters and translators include:
- Social Science Research Assistants
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Also Known As
American Sign Language Interpreter (ASL Interpreter), Arabic Translator, Bilingual Interpreter, Bilingual Secretary, Braille Transcriber, Braille Translator, Community Interpreter, Contract Translator, Court Interpreter, Cryptologic Linguist, Deaf Interpreter, Diplomatic Interpreter, Educational Interpreter, English Translator, Farsi Linguist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-3091.00