Interpreters and Translators
SOC Code: 27-3091 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Interpreters and Translators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,078 | $73,466 | $91,874 | $110,261 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $54,330 | $72,696 | $91,083 | $109,450 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $54,413 | $72,738 | $91,083 | $109,408 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64,438 | $79,373 | $94,307 | $109,242 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $43,805 | $65,229 | $86,674 | $108,098 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $43,451 | $64,854 | $86,237 | $107,640 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $54,101 | $71,906 | $89,710 | $107,515 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $52,374 | $70,075 | $87,776 | $105,477 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $31,866 | $56,285 | $80,725 | $105,144 |
| Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $51,688 | $69,368 | $87,048 | $104,728 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Health Care | 5 | $87,368 |
| Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford | 3 | $74,291 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | $82,354 |
| 2025 | 2 | $82,794 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.8 | |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 4.7 |
| Foreign Language | 4.1 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Education and Training | 3.4 |
| Administrative | 3.2 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.1 |
| Law and Government | 3.0 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.9 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 54.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.9% |
| High school diploma | 8.0% |
| Associate's degree | 4.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.7% |
| Some college | 1.3% |
Typical Tasks
- Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
- Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
- Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Hypertext markup language HTML Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word AceTools.biz Ace Translator Adapt It AmoK Translator Ashkon Translation Pad Babylon Online Translator DocTranslate Electronic dictionaries ExcelTrans Translator
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