Opportunities are many and varied, depending on language combinations and subject area specialties. According to the U.S. department of labor projections, “employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase 22 percent over the 2008–18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Higher demand for interpreters and translators results directly from the broadening of international ties and the large increases in the number of non-English speaking people in the United States… Job prospects for interpreters and translators vary by specialty and language,” ranging from healthcare to law. In 2009, about 28 percent worked in public and private educational institutions. About 13 percent worked in healthcare and social assistance, many of whom worked for hospitals. Another 9 percent worked in other areas of government, such as Federal, State, and local courts. Other employers of interpreters and translators include interpreting and translation agencies, publishing companies, telephone companies, and airlines. About 26 percent of interpreters and translators are self-employed.”
Translators work with written documents, as distinguished from interpreters, who work with oral language. Many translators will require on-the-job training in addition to Kent’s pre-professional BS in Translation. Translators work predominantly into the mother tongue.
Many translators rely on other sources of income to supplement earnings, such as teaching or language consultancy. The career outlook is best for those who gain a functional ability with translation tools and such skills as revising/editing/proofreading and desktop publishing. Prospects are currently strong in software internationalization and webpage localization (making products, text, or images acceptable to target-country market norms).
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