Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
The differences between translators and technical translators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a translator and a technical translator. Additionally, a technical translator has an average salary of $55,019, which is higher than the $44,278 average annual salary of a translator.
The top three skills for a translator include target language, translation services and vice versa. The most important skills for a technical translator are technical translation, technical manuals, and proofreading.
| Translator | Technical Translator | |
| Yearly Salary | $44,278 | $55,019 |
| Hourly rate | $21.29 | $26.45 |
| Growth Rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number Of Jobs | 1,206 | 68,352 |
| Job Satisfaction | - | - |
| Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average Age | 42 | 42 |
| Years Of Experience | 4 | 4 |
A translator is an expert of one or multiple languages, responsible for transcribing communication between parties for easy comprehension. Translators often work with written documents, relaying the core context and original message from the source. They should also be able to translate jargon, slang, cultural expressions, and related technical terms in an understandable format, depending on the level of the target audience. A translator must be highly fluent with the language to render ideas accurately, as well as have excellent time-management skills to meet project deadlines.
Technical Translation is the act of translating materials in a specific technical or scientific subject domain. A Technical Translator understands the nitty-gritty of the subject matter and knows the specialized terms in that field in both the source and secondary languages. This individual works to produce translations and interpretations of either written or oral communications of one language to another for a specific purpose or industry. As a Technical Translator, your duties may include interpreting conferences and emails in an organization.
Translators and technical translators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Translator | Technical Translator | |
| Average Salary | $44,278 | $55,019 |
| Salary Range | Between $27,000 And $70,000 | Between $37,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest Paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest Paying State | New York | Oregon |
| Best Paying Company | Apple | Apple |
| Best Paying Industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a translator and a technical translator in terms of educational background:
| Translator | Technical Translator | |
| Most Common Degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most Common Major | English | English |
| Most Common College | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between translators' and technical translators' demographics:
| Translator | Technical Translator | |
| Average Age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% | Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3% |
| Race Ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 32.0% Asian, 18.4% White, 37.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 17.9% White, 42.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |