Translation has become quite a competitive industry.
Q: How Much Do Freelance Translators Earn?
Of course, this is a question with many answers because it’s entirely dependent upon your skills as a translator, the quality of your clients, your motivation, and other factors. In the United States, a self-employed full-time freelance translator will probably be earning between $50,000 and $60,000; however, translators with good marketing techniques and excellent language skills will probably be earning anywhere up to $80,000. It’s important to recognize that a six figure income is definitely not out of the question if you're specializing, you work in a high-demand language pair, and you’re prepared to work very long hours.
Q: Is a Bachelor’s Degree a Prerequisite to Becoming a Translator?
The short answer to this question is no; however, most successful translators do have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. It’s definitely not a pre-requisite and there are certainly jobs out there that don’t require a college degree. For example, some agencies hire translators according to their own testing programs. That being said, it’s not often that we meet successful freelance translators who don’t have a Bachelor’s degree, a Masters or even higher.
Q: Is a Graduate Degree Necessary to Become a Translator?
Again, the short answer to this question is no, but if you want to make sure that you’re in the most competitive position then the answer is yes, you probably should have a college degree.
Translation has become quite a competitive industry and most translators hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree; some even have Doctoral degrees! These degrees are not a requirement in the United States but, from what we understand, things are quite different in Europe. In Europe, most professional translators not only have college degrees but a degree in their actual field.
So, you don’t have to have a college degree, but it’s the perfect tool to have in your toolbox!
There are very few professional jobs open to non-college graduates, so this means that newcomers to the translation industry will be competing with experienced colleagues with 20 or more years’ experience, and most of these will hold graduate degrees. So our advice to newcomers to the translation industry is to obtain as much formal education as you can. This doesn’t mean you won’t succeed in the translation industry without a college degree, but it could be an uphill battle. Perhaps the perception is that if a translator does have a college degree it shows more stamina and determination – very important attributes in our industry.
Another point worth noting is that, if you do have a graduate degree, it assists in meeting the eligibility requirements for the American Translators Association Certification exam.
Q: Does It Take a Long Time to Become Established as a Freelance Translator?
The answer to this question depends entirely on your specific situation. Some people get their businesses up and running in just a few months, whilst for others, it can take years. Some people already have contacts and begin working with direct clients almost straight away, whilst others start their career off by taking the agency route and work their way up from there. Generally, though, it will probably take up to a year to get a full-time business up and running, and another few months before you’re able to replace your previous full-time income.
