Interpreters and Translators: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media · SOC 27-3091 · O*NET 27-3091.00
Interpreters and Translators fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. Interpreters and Translators earn a median salary of $60,170 per year, ranking in the top 52% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.0% job growth through 2035, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about interpreters and translators right now
Interpreters convert spoken or signed language in real time; translators do the same with written text. It is a strong career for teens who are bilingual or eager to master a second language and who enjoy precise, careful communication. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations, but with steady demand in courts, hospitals, schools, and remote conferencing. The median annual wage was $59,440 in May 2024; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,630 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,830, with specialty fields like medical, court, and conference interpreting paying at the top end. Most positions require at least a bachelor's degree, often in foreign language, communications, or a technical field, plus full proficiency in two languages. Certification is generally voluntary but often required for court and federal work; the American Translators Association (ATA) and federal court interpreter certifications are widely respected. The biggest trend is the rise of AI and neural machine translation: industry research shows 79 percent of translators are familiar with AI tools, and 84 percent expect demand for raw human translation to fall while demand for post-editing, terminology management, and specialty interpreting rises. Live interpreting (medical, legal, ASL, conference) remains highly resistant to automation. Parents can encourage immersion, study abroad, AP language exams, and ASL coursework.
What do interpreters and translators earn?
The median annual wage for interpreters and translators is $60,170. That puts interpreters and translators at #427 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is interpreters and translators a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for interpreters and translators is +2.0%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 73K positions in 2024 to 75K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become interpreters and translator?
The standard path into interpreters and translators begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about interpreters and translators
What is the median salary for interpreters and translators?
The median annual salary for interpreters and translators is $60,170 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is interpreters and translators a growing career?
BLS projects +2.0% growth for interpreters and translators from 2025 through 2035, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become interpreters and translator?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to interpreters and translators?
Related occupations within the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.