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.
Learning4
Interpret spoken or sign language
+Interpret the speaker at the safety briefing from Spanish into clear spoken English in consecutive mode,…
Interpret spoken or sign language
+Interpret the speaker at the safety briefing from Spanish into clear spoken English in consecutive mode, preserving register and technical terms, flag any unclear utterances for follow-up, and deliver a one-paragraph gloss to the project lead immediately after the session.
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 bilingual terminology list from today's legal deposition—extract key terms, short definitions, and…
Compile terminology and information for translations
+Compile a bilingual terminology list from today's legal deposition—extract key terms, short definitions, and preferred English equivalents, group by concept, and produce a sortable two-column reference for the translation team before tomorrow's review.
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?
Follow ethical codes protecting confidentiality
+Apply the confidentiality code to the interview transcript: remove personal identifiers, mark sensitive…
Follow ethical codes protecting confidentiality
+Apply the confidentiality code to the interview transcript: remove personal identifiers, mark sensitive passages, note any consent limits, and create a secure redacted version with a brief audit trail for the client manager.
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?
Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
+Proofread and edit the translated policy document for accuracy of terminology, smoothness of register, and…
Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
+Proofread and edit the translated policy document for accuracy of terminology, smoothness of register, and consistent preferred terms; resolve three flagged inconsistencies, insert margin notes for unresolved queries, and return a clean file for final sign-off.
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 work15
Communicate information immediately after interpreting
+Report the interpreted decisions from the mediation session to the attorney immediately after the break:…
Communicate information immediately after interpreting
+Report the interpreted decisions from the mediation session to the attorney immediately after the break: summarize outcomes in three bullet points, note any ambiguous clauses, and list two recommended clarifying questions for the next round.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCOWikipedia
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 detailed, timestamped notes of the two-hour bilingual briefing in the conference room, capture speaker…
Take notes to aid understanding
+Take detailed, timestamped notes of the two-hour bilingual briefing in the conference room, capture speaker turns and key terms in both languages, flag unclear passages for follow-up, and produce a searchable plain-text report by end of day Friday.
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 recorded plenary and produce a faithful, meaning-preserving transcript that keeps speaker…
Preserve meaning of original speech
+Listen to the recorded plenary and produce a faithful, meaning-preserving transcript that keeps speaker intent, registers idiomatic expressions, and annotates translation choices and doubtful renderings for review by Monday morning.
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 disagreement over the term 'incident' between the safety team and legal: list each party's…
Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
+Resolve the disagreement over the term 'incident' between the safety team and legal: list each party's definition, map where they clash in procedures, propose a single definition that preserves legal precision and operational clarity, and email the proposal to Marta in safety and Raj in legal by Thursday.
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, error messages, and UI labels for the billing module into Brazilian Portuguese,…
Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
+Localise the user guide, error messages, and UI labels for the billing module into Brazilian Portuguese, adapt measurements and examples to local practice, deliver a translated manual and a spreadsheet of approved terms to Lucas in product by next Tuesday for engineering handoff.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft 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 and run a two-day workshop for five junior translators to improve courtroom interpreting: prepare…
Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
+Design and run a two-day workshop for five junior translators to improve courtroom interpreting: prepare exercises, a rubric, and sample scripts, supervise their mock sessions giving live feedback, then send performance notes and development targets to each trainee and to Ana, their manager, within 48 hours.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordO*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 patent application into Spanish maintaining legal terminology and claim structure,…
Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
+Translate the 12-page patent application into Spanish maintaining legal terminology and claim structure, preserve clause numbering and cross-references, deliver a clean translated manuscript and a term concordance to Javier in IP by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*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
+Prepare to interpret a multinational HR hearing: review case files in English and French, draft neutral…
Speak, read, and write fluently in at least two languages
+Prepare to interpret a multinational HR hearing: review case files in English and French, draft neutral phrasing for sensitive passages, rehearse tone and pauses, then provide verbatim and summarized interpretation notes to HR lead Sophie immediately after the hearing.
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?
Provide accurate, culturally sensitive, and impartial interpretations
+Create a conflict-free, culturally neutral glossary of 150 core terms for refugee services in Arabic and…
Provide accurate, culturally sensitive, and impartial interpretations
+Create a conflict-free, culturally neutral glossary of 150 core terms for refugee services in Arabic and English, validate entries with two community reviewers, then publish the final bilingual glossary and implementation notes to the caseworkers mailing list on Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues
+Rebuild trust with the Geneva legal team and my interpreting partners: apologise for last week’s missed…
Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues
+Rebuild trust with the Geneva legal team and my interpreting partners: apologise for last week’s missed brief, share a clear timeline for glossary delivery by Friday, invite one-hour feedback sessions next Tuesday, and confirm preferred contact and invoicing terms.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob 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 ambassador’s speech, note unfamiliar terms and context, flag three possible meanings for each…
Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings
+Listen to the ambassador’s speech, note unfamiliar terms and context, flag three possible meanings for each ambiguous phrase, and deliver a two-page memo with recommended equivalents to the policy team within four hours.
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)
+Check the ministry’s draft report against specialised glossaries and online corpora, update twenty technical…
Use external resources and tools for written translation (implied for translators)
+Check the ministry’s draft report against specialised glossaries and online corpora, update twenty technical entries with sources and usage notes, then send the revised glossary and source list to the translation lead by end of day.
The tools that do the workAceTools.biz Ace TranslatorMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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
+Compile primary sources on interpretation practices since 1980, extract three representative protocols, write…
Engage in historical research related to interpretation practices
+Compile primary sources on interpretation practices since 1980, extract three representative protocols, write a 1,000-word comparative brief showing how booths, relay, and consecutive evolved, and circulate it to the research group on Monday.
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
+Consecutive-interpret the legal hearing into English, preserve register and speaker intent, mark time stamps…
Convert spoken communication from one language to another
+Consecutive-interpret the legal hearing into English, preserve register and speaker intent, mark time stamps for dense passages, and hand over a verbatim transcript plus a cleanised version to counsel within two hours of adjournment.
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?
Retain considerable amounts of information
+Before tomorrow’s three-hour summit, rehearse and memorise the delegate list, their portfolios and talking…
Retain considerable amounts of information
+Before tomorrow’s three-hour summit, rehearse and memorise the delegate list, their portfolios and talking points, create a bullet crib sheet of 30 items, and place it with my headset for instant reference.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Keeping the record1
Convert concepts, style, and tone in source language
+Render the presenter's remarks into English preserving tone and register, adapt metaphors and sentence rhythm…
Convert concepts, style, and tone in source language
+Render the presenter's remarks into English preserving tone and register, adapt metaphors and sentence rhythm for the target audience, and produce a short stylistic brief explaining choices for the editor before final layout.
The tools that do the workAceTools.biz Ace TranslatorESCOjob 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.
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