Interpreters and translators held about 61,000 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most interpreters and translators were as follows:
Professional, scientific, and technical services
29%
Educational services; state, local, and private
26
Healthcare and social assistance
16
Government
7
About 1 in 5 were self-employed in 2014.
Interpreters work in settings such as schools, hospitals, courtrooms, and conference centers. They must sometimes travel to conferences. Simultaneous interpreting can be stressful, because the interpreter must keep up with the speaker, who may not know to slow down when an interpreter is present. Interpreters work in pairs when assignments are longer than 20-30 minutes long to prevent mental fatigue.
Translators typically work from home. They receive and submit their work electronically, and must sometimes deal with the pressure of deadlines and tight schedules. Some translators are employees at translation companies or individual organizations.
Work Schedules
Self-employed interpreters and translators often have variable work schedules, which may include periods of limited work and periods of long, irregular hours. Most interpreters and translators work full time during regular business hours.
