Hiring guide · Arts, Media & Design
How to Hire an Interpreter
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring interpreters, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $60,170), recruit through portfolio sites and creative communities, verify Medical interpreter certification where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for interpreters
There are about 73,900 interpreters employed in the U.S., with roughly 6,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +2.0% from 2025–35 (slower than average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $37,070–$46,530 | $17.82–$22.37 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,830 | $38.86 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $103,660 | $49.84 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Language fluency
- Concentration
Nice-to-haves
- Medical interpreter certification
- Court interpreter certification
- ATA certification
- Experience with interpreting headsets
Where to find interpreters
- Portfolio sites and creative communities
- Art, design, film and journalism school career centers
- Freelancers who have already worked with your team
- Professional associations such as AIGA and PRSA
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Translator, Medical Interpreter, Court Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter
Screening checklist
- Portfolio or reel review
- A short paid test project
- Software proficiency check
- References from clients or creative directors
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “What languages do you speak?”
What a strong answer includes: Be specific about fluency.
2. “How do you handle a term you don’t know?”
What a strong answer includes: Ask for clarification.
3. “What certifications do you have?”
What a strong answer includes: List them.
4. “How do you stay impartial?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain ethics.
5. “Have you done remote interpreting?”
What a strong answer includes: Describe experience.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Interpret a Medical Appointment (see the steps)
- Build a Terminology Glossary (see the steps)
- Translate a Document (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Consecutive interpreting, Simultaneous interpreting, Sight translation
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Interpreter 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Interpreter training. Show them the path forward: Bilingual Staff or Trainee → Interpreter or Translator → Certified Specialist → Lead Interpreter or Agency Owner.
Hiring interpreters: FAQ
How much should I pay an interpreter?
The U.S. median wage for interpreters is $60,170 per year ($28.93/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($46,530), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($80,830). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an interpreter have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Medical interpreter certification and Court interpreter certification where relevant, plus skills such as language fluency, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, and translation.
How long does it take to train a new interpreter?
Becoming qualified typically takes Fluency plus 6 months–4 years of training. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”