The ability to translate can be a lucrative skill, but only if you get
hooked up with the right people and institutions to get work flowing
your way. The Internet can be extremely useful in arranging contract
work for industrious freelance translators.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 26
percent of all translators work as independent contractors or
freelancers. Translators take material in one language and recreate it
into another. Translating is more than just exchanging words from one
language to another -- it's also about recreating the ideas, nuances and
emotional context of the material.
Translators who work in the government sector, health care and law tend to earn a higher salary based on the technical nature of the translations. For example, hospitals often employ translators who in addition to understanding multiple languages must also be familiar with complex medical terminology. Translators who choose a niche and specialize in it will earn more by building their resumes and becoming experts in their field.
Based on May 2008 statistics, translators earned a median wage of $38,850 annually. The lowest 10 percentile earned less than $22,170. The highest 10 percentile earned more than $69,190. The variation in earnings is based on a number of factors, including language, skill, experience and the type of employer for whom they work. For example, translators who work for the federal government and are classified as language specialists earned the highest level of salary, averaging $79,865 annually as of March 2009.
Translators who work in the government sector, health care and law tend to earn a higher salary based on the technical nature of the translations. For example, hospitals often employ translators who in addition to understanding multiple languages must also be familiar with complex medical terminology. Translators who choose a niche and specialize in it will earn more by building their resumes and becoming experts in their field.
Based on May 2008 statistics, translators earned a median wage of $38,850 annually. The lowest 10 percentile earned less than $22,170. The highest 10 percentile earned more than $69,190. The variation in earnings is based on a number of factors, including language, skill, experience and the type of employer for whom they work. For example, translators who work for the federal government and are classified as language specialists earned the highest level of salary, averaging $79,865 annually as of March 2009.
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