How to Become a Professional Translator

Speaking more than one language is an amazingly useful skill, especially when it comes to your career. For some it’s a springboard to more international opportunities while for others it becomes the complete focus of what they do.

But what does it really mean to become a professional translator? Do you have to be certified? What opportunities are available? And how much can you expect to be paid?

The Difference Between Translators and Interpreters

Let’s start with some basic terminology. In the world of professional translation there are translators and interpreters. Interpreters are essentially a specialised type of translator who work face-to-face in real time. In theory that sounds quite similar but in practice, it’s a whole different ballgame. 

The big difference is in speed. When a translator works on a text they have time to think about their phrasing, to research the quirks of specific idioms and terminology, and to construct a thoughtful translation that won’t be misunderstood by the target demographic. Interpreters are working within all those same constraints but without the luxury of time.

Interpreters are expected to deliver an accurate translation on the spot, clearly and without grammatical errors. It’s a highly stressful and intensive job which is why it’s not uncommon for them to work in teams, swapping out every half or so in order to rest.

It’s also understood that accidents do happen, especially in tense situations. So long as they’re quick to catch their mistakes and careful to issue corrections, interpreters generally aren’t blamed for the occasional slip up.

They also don’t have to carefully translate idioms as often or the same standard. If, for example, the translator of a novel were required to translate a joke that only worked in the original language, they would have to create a new joke in the new language that bore a distinct resemblance to the original. A pun would have to remain a pun even if the words were changed. If an interpreter were confronted with wordplay, they could simply provide context and explain the general meaning of the joke.

Professional Translator Salaries

With that groundwork laid, let’s talk about salaries. Generally speaking, it’s very hard to pin down translation salaries because there are so many influential factors. Some languages are rarer than others and therefore skilled translators are in high demand. Some industries are more international than others and different types of industry require different types of translation.

As a general rule, interpreters are paid more than translators because – as discussed above – their work is more stressful and requires a higher skill level in listening and speaking. They are also more likely to be salaried, particularly by large governmental and diplomatic bodies such as the EU and UN.

For translators, the pay can be moderate to lucrative entirely depending on the industry. Absolute subject matter experts in high paying industries with a lot of demand can reach six figure incomes but it is rare. For many the reality is a modest income floating between minimum wage (£26.5K) and around £40K.

How to Become a Professional Translator

Building a professional translator career is a multi-step process. First you have to learn your target language to a high level of proficiency. While not all translators are at native-level proficiency, to do professional work you need to be sitting at around a C2 (the highest standard of the European Framework). Furthermore, you’ll need qualifications from a respected body to prove it.

In terms of work, expect to be translating into your native language(s) and not the other way around. This is because comprehension is widely understood to be easier than composition. It’s much easier to understand someone else’s words than to come up with your own. A true native speaker almost always has a more subtle grasp of idiom and will therefore be much better at conveying subtle shades of meaning.

One last important note about finding work. Being a translator isn’t just about being an expert in multiple languages. A translator also needs to be a subject matter expert. Many of the best paid translators work in fields like the legal industry where they can comfortably translate advanced and jargon with total confidence.

All this to say that if you want to find professional work translating then pick an industry up front and target that. An expert biochemist who speaks French, Mandarin, and Hungarian will have far more opportunities than a Franco-Hungarian Mandarin speaker who enjoys studying biochemistry as a hobby.