by our College Data Analytics TeamLanguage Translation was the 770th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 971 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 97 over the prior year, a growth of 10.0%.
This year's Best Language Translation Schools ranking compares 12 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of language translation programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in language translation is talking to others to convey information effectively. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific language translation careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different language translation degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in language translation to something that takes less time like a . Different language translation degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to language translation, with approximately 36.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for language translation workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 37.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 30.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.3% |
62.8% of language translation workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in language translation careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the language translation career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your language translation degree? Language Translation careers are expected to grow 15.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to language translation.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 39,100 | 11.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for language translation graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for language translation graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers language translation grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Professors | $79,160 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
With over 141 different language translation degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased language translation school rankings to help you with this.
One of 5 majors within the Linguistics & Comparative Literature area of study, Language Translation has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Linguistics | 3,247 |
| Modern Languages | 2,871 |
| Comparative Literature | 964 |
| Other Linguistic, Comparative, & Related Language Studies & Services | 288 |
| Applied Linguistics | 198 |
Image Credit: By Pandit Rahul Sanskrutayan, Banshidhar Mohanty under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
