Translator / Interpreter
Also known as: Linguist, Interpreter
Bridge language barriers by converting text or speech between languages for business, legal, and medical contexts.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for translator / interpreters.
About 1 in 2,000 reaches this level
The UN employs maybe 100-150 staff interpreters globally; out of ~75K US translators, senior UN P-5 roles top out around $140K base with post adjustments reaching ~$175K.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
This career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Here are the top colleges for it:
AI Risk Assessment
Among the hardest-hit professions. The IMF reduced translators from 200 to 50. An Irish translator lost 70% of income. For each 1% increase in machine translation usage, translator employment dropped 0.7%, resulting in ~28,000 lost positions over 2010-2023. The remaining work is mostly polishing machine output -- a lower-skill, lower-pay task.
Sources
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
Related Careers
Is Translator / Interpreter right for you?
Take our free 20-minute assessment to find out if translator / interpreter matches your personality, interests, and strengths.
Take the Free Assessment