Language Interpretation and Translation: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Language Interpretation and Translation programs equip students with advanced linguistic proficiency and professional expertise in conveying meaning across languages with precision and cultural sensitivity. This field emphasizes real-world application, preparing individuals to work in dynamic environments where accurate, context-aware communication is critical.
- Single- and multiple-language interpretation: Develops skills in real-time oral translation between one or more language pairs, focusing on clarity, accuracy, and situational adaptability.
- One- and two-way interpretation: Trains students to manage bidirectional communication in settings such as diplomatic meetings, legal proceedings, or medical consultations, ensuring balanced and equitable exchange.
- Simultaneous interpretation: Focuses on the high-pressure skill of translating spoken content in real time, often used in international conferences and live events, requiring exceptional concentration and linguistic agility.
- General and literary translation: Builds expertise in translating non-technical, narrative, and creative texts while preserving tone, style, and cultural nuance across languages.
- Business translation: Emphasizes the accurate rendering of commercial documents, contracts, marketing materials, and correspondence with attention to industry-specific terminology and formal registers.
- Technical translation: Prepares students to translate complex documentation from fields such as engineering, healthcare, IT, and science, requiring mastery of specialized vocabulary and precision in conveying technical details.
- Specialized applications of linguistic skills: Explores niche domains including legal, medical, educational, and multimedia translation, equipping learners to meet the demands of diverse professional sectors.
Language Interpretation and Translation Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Language Interpretation and Translation Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Language Interpretation and Translation degrees, including Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary and Interpreters and Translators. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 74,530 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1124 | $77,010 | $47,090 - $134,960 | 21,170 | N/A |
| Interpreters and Translators 27-3091 | $59,440 | $35,630 - $99,830 | 53,360 | $28.58 |
Language Interpretation and Translation Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,060 in Louisiana to $89,920 in California—a 100% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 74,530 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Language Interpretation and Translation by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 73 institutions offering Language Interpretation and Translation programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Language Interpretation and Translation is found at Durham Technical Community College (Durham Tech) (73 graduates), Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS), Monterey (69 graduates), Santa Ana College (SAC) (57 graduates), The University of Texas, Arlington (51 graduates), and Kent State University, Kent (41 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 967 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Technical Community College (Durham Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
73 | Durham, North Carolina | Public | durhamtech.edu |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) |
Master's
|
69 | Monterey, California | Private | middlebury.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
57 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
51 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Other Award
|
35 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Surry Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
29 | Dobson, North Carolina | Public | surry.edu |
| Alamance Community College (ACC) |
Other Award
|
29 | Graham, North Carolina | Public | alamancecc.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
26 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Sampson Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
26 | Clinton, North Carolina | Public | sampsoncc.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Other Award
|
19 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Community College of Aurora (CCA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | ccaurora.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College (MCC-KC) |
Other Award
|
18 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | mcckc.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
17 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
16 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU-OKC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | osuokc.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Beaufort County Community College (BCCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Washington, North Carolina | Public | beaufortccc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
14 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Johnston Community College (JCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Smithfield, North Carolina | Public | johnstoncc.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
13 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
13 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Wilson Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Wilson, North Carolina | Public | wilsoncc.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Public | wctc.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Master's
|
12 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| Moreno Valley College (MVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Moreno Valley, California | Public | mvc.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Other Award
|
11 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
11 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
10 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Residency
|
10 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
9 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
9 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Northwestern College (NWC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
7 | Orange City, Iowa | Private | nwciowa.edu |
| Oral Roberts University (ORU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | oru.edu |
| Texas A & M University (TAMU‑CC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | tamucc.edu |
| De Anza College |
Other Award
|
6 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| Bristol Community College |
Other Award
|
6 | Fall River, Massachusetts | Public | bristolcc.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Other Award
|
6 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
6 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Viterbo University |
Other Award
|
6 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Private | viterbo.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Other Award
|
5 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Ukiah, California | Private | drbu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Other Award
|
5 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| College of Saint Mary (CSM) |
Other Award
|
5 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | csm.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Master's
|
5 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Lake Region State College (LRSC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Devils Lake, North Dakota | Public | lrsc.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
5 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Laney College |
Other Award
|
4 | Oakland, California | Public | laney.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Other Award
|
4 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Cranford, New Jersey | Public | ucc.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | cfcc.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Other Award
|
2 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
| Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) |
Other Award
|
1 | West Barnstable, Massachusetts | Public | capecod.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
1 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| La Salle University |
Master's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | lasalle.edu |
| Bennington College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Bennington, Vermont | Private | bennington.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Language Interpretation and Translation programs
How much can I earn with a Language Interpretation and Translation degree?
Salaries for Language Interpretation and Translation graduates vary by role and location. Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,010 annually, while Interpreters and Translators earn around $59,440. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $89,920 compared to $45,060 in Louisiana. Approximately 74,530 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Language Interpretation and Translation programs?
Currently 73 accredited institutions offer Language Interpretation and Translation degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Durham Technical Community College (Durham Tech) (73 graduates), Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS), Monterey (69 graduates), and Santa Ana College (SAC) (57 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Language Interpretation and Translation growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 509 in 2010 to 967 in 2023-24. This represents a 90% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Language Interpretation and Translation degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Interpreters and Translators, . Related occupations employ approximately 74,530 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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