What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Interpreters and Translators in the U.S. earn more than $60,170 a year — the middle 80% land between $37,070 and $103,660. About 52,060 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Interpreters and Translators”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$60,170typical pay / year
52,060people in this work
$103,660+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record4
Interpret spoken or sign language
+Interpret the speaker's remarks from French into clear spoken English in consecutive mode for the UN…
Interpret spoken or sign language
+Interpret the speaker's remarks from French into clear spoken English in consecutive mode for the UN delegation, preserving register and implied meaning, flag any cultural references I should ask to clarify, and deliver a short briefing in five minutes.
The tools that do the workAdapt Itjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Compile terminology and information for translations
+Compile a terminology list from the project meeting recording: extract technical terms, source-language…
Compile terminology and information for translations
+Compile a terminology list from the project meeting recording: extract technical terms, source-language example phrases, concise English equivalents, and register notes, then sort by frequency and email the glossary to Maria and the translation team by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
+Proofread the translated report for consistency of terminology, smooth sentence rhythm, and idiomatic…
Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
+Proofread the translated report for consistency of terminology, smooth sentence rhythm, and idiomatic naturalness, insert tracked changes for suggested edits, and return the edited file to Omar with a 48‑hour turnaround.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Communicate information immediately after interpreting
+Immediately after the session, prepare and deliver a concise oral précis in English to the project lead…
Communicate information immediately after interpreting
+Immediately after the session, prepare and deliver a concise oral précis in English to the project lead summarising the speaker's main points, action items, and any ambiguous passages needing follow‑up.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointESCOWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Protecting1
Follow ethical codes protecting confidentiality
+Review the confidential intake transcript and mark any passages that risk breaching participant privacy,…
Follow ethical codes protecting confidentiality
+Review the confidential intake transcript and mark any passages that risk breaching participant privacy, redact personal identifiers, and produce a one‑page note on how I complied with the interpreter code for the file I must archive.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
The daily work14
Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues
+Check in with the three NGO contacts I met in Dakar last month, confirm their current priorities, note any…
Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues
+Check in with the three NGO contacts I met in Dakar last month, confirm their current priorities, note any wording they prefer for reports, offer two time windows for a catch-up this Friday or next Tuesday, and log outcomes in the client file.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings
+Listen to the recorded stakeholder panel from yesterday, transcribe ambiguous turns I flagged, annotate…
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings
+Listen to the recorded stakeholder panel from yesterday, transcribe ambiguous turns I flagged, annotate likely speaker intent where phrasing is unclear, and produce a one-page memo of inferred meanings with confidence levels by tomorrow noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Use external resources and tools for written translation (implied for translators)
+Pull up the source text for the procurement brief, run parallel checks against the bilingual glossary and two…
Use external resources and tools for written translation (implied for translators)
+Pull up the source text for the procurement brief, run parallel checks against the bilingual glossary and two electronic dictionaries, flag terminology inconsistencies, and produce a corrected draft with a short notes section explaining each choice.
The tools that do the workAceTools.biz Ace TranslatorMicrosoft WordWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Engage in historical research related to interpretation practices
+Search the archive for interpretation protocols used in UN field missions between 1995 and 2005, extract…
Engage in historical research related to interpretation practices
+Search the archive for interpretation protocols used in UN field missions between 1995 and 2005, extract three representative practices, summarise their evolution in a two-page brief, and suggest which could improve our relay interpreting workflow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Convert spoken communication from one language to another
+Interpret the plenary intervention from French into English live, preserving register and speaker emphasis,…
Convert spoken communication from one language to another
+Interpret the plenary intervention from French into English live, preserving register and speaker emphasis, mark jargon terms for a post-session glossary, and signal any unclear source phrases for clarification immediately after the talk.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Retain considerable amounts of information
+Memorise the ten-part briefing sequence for tomorrow’s hearing, rehearse aloud each segment until I can…
Retain considerable amounts of information
+Memorise the ten-part briefing sequence for tomorrow’s hearing, rehearse aloud each segment until I can recite them without notes, and create a condensed cue sheet of triggers and time stamps for quick reference during the session.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Take notes to aid understanding
+Take verbatim and paraphrase notes of today’s field interview with Maria Sanchez, mark unclear segments for…
Take notes to aid understanding
+Take verbatim and paraphrase notes of today’s field interview with Maria Sanchez, mark unclear segments for follow-up, flag idioms and code-switches with timestamps, and produce a clean annotated transcript and a one‑paragraph comprehension brief by Monday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Preserve meaning of original speech
+Listen to the ten-minute council speech and produce a faithful rendered draft that preserves speaker intent…
Preserve meaning of original speech
+Listen to the ten-minute council speech and produce a faithful rendered draft that preserves speaker intent and modality, note where tone, register or cultural references alter meaning, and provide alternative phrasings that keep the original sense by end of day.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
+Resolve the dispute over whether 'service' in the contract means ongoing technical support or a one‑off…
Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
+Resolve the dispute over whether 'service' in the contract means ongoing technical support or a one‑off installation, review the contract clauses and past emails from Miguel and Priya, propose revised wording that prevents both readings and justify each change to the procurement lead.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
+Localise the user guide and installer messages into Brazilian Portuguese, adapt examples, date and currency…
Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
+Localise the user guide and installer messages into Brazilian Portuguese, adapt examples, date and currency formats, and privacy wording to comply with Brazil law, then prepare a reviewer note explaining cultural choices for the QA localization lead.
The tools that do the workAdapt ItMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
+Design a three‑session training for five junior interpreters covering booth technique, ethical neutrality,…
Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
+Design a three‑session training for five junior interpreters covering booth technique, ethical neutrality, and quick terminology lookup, include exercises, assessment criteria, and a supervision schedule with two shadowing shifts each week for the next month.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
+Translate the 12‑page environmental impact report into fluent Spanish, preserving technical register and…
Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
+Translate the 12‑page environmental impact report into fluent Spanish, preserving technical register and citations, note any ambiguous source terms and propose precise renderings for the project manager to approve before final delivery.
The tools that do the workAceTools.biz Ace TranslatorMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Speak, read, and write fluently in at least two languages
+Interpret the hospital discharge meeting from English into Cantonese, keep medical terms precise, flag any…
Speak, read, and write fluently in at least two languages
+Interpret the hospital discharge meeting from English into Cantonese, keep medical terms precise, flag any statements that could influence consent, and deliver a concise written summary of key points and cautions to the attending physician afterwards.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Provide accurate, culturally sensitive, and impartial interpretations
+Provide impartial interpretation for the arbitration hearing between GreenCo and Alvarez, render statements…
Provide accurate, culturally sensitive, and impartial interpretations
+Provide impartial interpretation for the arbitration hearing between GreenCo and Alvarez, render statements verbatim where possible, note cultural or idiomatic issues in a post‑session memo, and certify neutrality for the tribunal clerk.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
Copyright © LLOS.ai · 2026 — original pedagogy, voice, and design — all rights reserved.
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses