CALLING ALL TRANSLATORS/INTERPRETERS.
Hi, I decided I want to be a translator/interpreter when I grow up. 
But I have a few questions, if real translators/interpreters ( or one of the two ) could answer my questions I would be very grateful
My questions are:
How many years of college do I need to become a translator/interpreter.
How much does it pay?
What languages should I learn?
What company should I work for?
What degree would I need?
p.s. I don't want to be a freelance translator/interpreter ( because there wouldn't be any health benefits, and it would be to hard to get a business up and running, ect.) I was thinking maybe more like a company translator/interpreter. Like for conferences, phone calls, documents, business, trading, ect. Would this be a good idea? I heard highly skilled translators/interpreters can earn over $50 an hour and get over $100,000 a year. I think this would be a perfect future job for me because I love to learn languages!
PLEASE REPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 Answers
1. How many years of college do I need to become a translator/interpreter.
None. No one cares about degrees. It is ability that counts.
2. How much does it pay'
That depends on so many factors that I can't answer. In general, SPEN does not pay that well because there are so many people doing it, and because there is a relative lack of highly technical translation material, which usually receives higher pay.
3. What languages should I learn'
Russian and Chinese are certainly promising languages for the future, and particularly the latter, but it has to be a language that interests you, because you need to live abroad for at least several years to become fluent. So you should enjoy living in the country of your choice.
4. What company should I work for'
Impossible to answer.
5. What degree would I need'
See 1. above.
p.s. I don't want to be a freelance translator/interpreter ( because there wouldn't be any health benefits, and it would be to hard to get a business up and running, ect.) I was thinking maybe more like a company translator/interpreter. Like for conferences, phone calls, documents, business, trading, ect. Would this be a good idea? I heard highly skilled translators/interpreters can earn over $50 an hour and get over $100,000 a year. I think this would be a perfect future job for me because I love to learn languages!
The vast majority of translators are freelancers, because the pay is far higher than that for in-house translators. It is not difficult to start a business if you are a good translator in a field with high demand. The lack of medical insurance and other benefits is indeed a drawback, but it is more than offset by the higher pay. In my field (Japanese patent translation), almost all decent translators earn over $100,000/year if they work full-time, but it takes many years to become proficient in the language and the technical and legal points.
James said:
1. How many years of college do I need to become a translator/interpreter.None. No one cares about degrees. It is ability that counts.2. How much does it pay'That depends on so many factors that I can't answer. In general, SPEN does not pay that well because there are so many people doing it, and because there is a relative lack of highly technical translation material, which usually receives higher pay.3. What languages should I learn'Russian and Chinese are certainly promising languages for the future, and particularly the latter, but it has to be a language that interests you, because you need to live abroad for at least several years to become fluent. So you should enjoy living in the country of your choice.4. What company should I work for'Impossible to answer.5. What degree would I need'See 1. above.p.s. I don't want to be a freelance translator/interpreter ( because there wouldn't be any health benefits, and it would be to hard to get a business up and running, ect.) I was thinking maybe more like a company translator/interpreter. Like for conferences, phone calls, documents, business, trading, ect. Would this be a good idea? I heard highly skilled translators/interpreters can earn over $50 an hour and get over $100,000 a year. I think this would be a perfect future job for me because I love to learn languages!The vast majority of translators are freelancers, because the pay is far higher than that for in-house translators. It is not difficult to start a business if you are a good translator in a field with high demand. The lack of medical insurance and other benefits is indeed a drawback, but it is more than offset by the higher pay. In my field (Japanese patent translation), almost all decent translators earn over $100,000/year if they work full-time, but it takes many years to become proficient in the language and the technical and legal points.
Welcome back, James.
HI shelly, the site I can recommend for this question is this one:
http://www.english-spanish-translator.org/
There are also pros on this forum, who will surely be able to help. but if you post your question there too, you will get more variety of answers.
Keep on keeping on Shelly. Sounds like a great future you're building for yourself!
