With so many rumors and myths surrounding the highest paying translation jobs, it can be hard to figure out what linguists typically bring home. The simple truth, however, is that the income in translations can vary depending on a range of factors.
Language pairs, the kind of translation service, translation speed, the translators’ location, and the type of content being translated all significantly impact the kind of remuneration involved in the project. To make translation salaries easier to understand, we’ll break things down by specialty and then take a closer look at the highest paying languages in translation!
Which Translation Jobs Offer the Best Salaries?
Languages aside, here’s a look at the various types of translating and interpreting jobs and their average salaries.
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Simultaneous Interpreter
Simultaneous interpreting brings home the best kind of bacon, and with good reason! It’s one of the most challenging jobs in the language services industry. The work is complicated as you need to listen, translate, and speak, all at the same time! Due to the high level of focus required in simultaneous interpreting, it’s not uncommon to see more than one interpreter working at a time. Depending on your area of expertise, you can expect to bring home anything between $70,000 and $180,000 per year, with top-tier simultaneous interpreters earning up to $500,000 per year.
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Literary Translator
Literary translators, as the titles imply, translate literature into different languages. These pieces of content can be in the form of journals, poetry, and even books. Translating literary work while ensuring that cultural nuances and localization are on-target can be challenging, tedious work, but that is also why these translators earn an average of $51,000 per year.
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Localization Translator
Localization translators are in high demand as more and more brands start focusing their attention on global audiences. These translators help brands establish a presence in foreign markets, tailoring their original content to suit the needs and expectations of foreign audiences. Localization translators can expect to earn anything up to $60,000 per year.
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Medical Translator
Medical translators are masters of their target languages and also have in-depth knowledge of medical terminology and content. These translators have to be fluent in two languages and have impeccable writing skills better to facilitate communication between healthcare providers and their patients. Translators employed in the medical field earn annual salaries averaging about $46,000.
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Judiciary Translator
Judiciary translators work in the juridical system or courtroom, translating legal documents. This is a complex employment field that requires a deep understanding of legal jargon and how the legal system works. For their efforts, top-tier judiciary translators can earn up to $70,000 per year.
What Are the Highest Paying Translation Languages?
Day Translations decided to share some industry insights with hopeful translators. Here’s a quick look at the highest-paying translation languages and their average annual salaries:
- Arabic – $74,000 per year.
- German – $60,000 per year.
- Spanish – $48,000 per year.
- French – $45,000 per year.
- Dutch – $44,000 per year.
- Russian – $43,000 per year.
- Japanese – $42,000 per year.
- Italian – $36,000 per year.
- Chinese Simplified (Mandarin) – $35,000 per year
Final Thoughts
Before embarking on the hunt for a translation job, it is essential to take the time to reflect on your skillset, choose a language to focus on, and then decide in which area of work you’d like to excel. The right language choice can literally take you to all the right places!