Interpreters and Translators
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.
AI Impact Summary
Interpreters and Translators faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 36/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 70% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Interpreters and Translators skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.
Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters.
Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information. | 76.48Observed | 79.8% | 2% | |
| Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible. | 44.5Observed | 44.8% | 20% | |
| Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary. | 90Estimated | 63.0% | 10% | |
| Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material. | 61.98Observed | 74.0% | 5% | |
| Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages. | 40.2Observed | 43.1% | 15% | |
| Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials. | 50.48Observed | 69.4% | 8% | |
| Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions. | 41.8Observed | 65.9% | 5% | |
| Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors. | 65.45Observed | 53.2% | 5% | |
| Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy. | 41.67Observed | 65.9% | 5% | |
| Train and supervise other translators or interpreters. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material. | 51.55Observed | 35.6% | 4% | |
| Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided. | 62.15Observed | 39.9% | 4% | |
| Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary. | 33.1Observed | 40.2% | 3% | |
| Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 3% | |
| Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience. | 54.35Observed | 70.9% | 3% | |
| Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture. | 80Estimated | 59.0% | 3% | |
| Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 29.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$59,440
per year
Mean Wage
$64,950
per year
Employment
53K
workers
Wage Range
$35,630 - $99,830
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
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Alternate Career Paths
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Advertising and Promotions Managers
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Computer and Information Systems Managers
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Interpreters and Translators professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change