Needs in homeland security and health care translate into demand for interpreters

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August 27, 2009

Needs in homeland security and health care translate into demand for interpreters

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Outlook: Employment of interpreters and translators is expected to grow 24 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth will be driven by strong demand in health care settings and work related to homeland security.

Pay: The 410 interpreters and translators in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area earned a median wage of $38,720 in 2007.

The job: Interpreters and translators enable the cross-cultural communication necessary in today’s society by converting one language into another. However, these language specialists do more than simply translate words -- they relay concepts and ideas between languages. In addition, they must be sensitive to the cultures associated with their languages of expertise.

Training/licensing: Interpreters and translators must be fluent in at least two languages. Their educational backgrounds may vary widely, but most have a bachelor’s degree. Many also complete job-specific training programs.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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This article was originally published in June 2009.