Interpreters and translators
SOC Code: 27-3091
Interpreters and translators carries a 53% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $59,440 and +1.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 75,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Interpreters and translators (SOC 27-3091) carries an AI exposure score of 53%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 75,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +1.7% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $59,440, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Interpreters and translators. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
- 2. Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
- 3. Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
- 4. Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
- 5. Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
- 6. Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
- 7. Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
- 8. Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
- 9. Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
- 10. Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
Knowledge Areas
- English Language
- Foreign Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Administrative
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Communications and Media
- Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Interpreters and translators?
Interpreters and translators has an AI exposure score of 53%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Interpreters and translators?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Interpreters and translators is projected to grow by 1.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 75,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Interpreters and translators?
Key skills for Interpreters and translators include Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Interpreters and translators earn?
The median annual wage for Interpreters and translators is $59,440, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Interpreters and translators?
The typical entry-level education for Interpreters and translators is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Interpreters and translators?
Interpreters and translators roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).