Court Interpreter Salary and Job Description

Court interpreters, also known as judiciary interpreters and translators, are vital to the U.S. justice system. These individuals ensure that everyone who participates in U.S. court proceedings has access to information in their own language. While language fluency is the primary requirement, a degree program that emphasizes cultural and emotional sensitivity can provide the foundational knowledge and key skills required to thrive in this rewarding, in-demand career. 

Court Interpreter Job Description

Court interpreters translate or interpret information during courtroom proceedings. They participate in hearings and trials and may also attend other judiciary-related meetings, such as depositions, to ensure that every party involved has a fair trial. Their services are most often required when trial participants don’t speak or struggle to understand English. 

Court interpreters provide sight, consecutive, or simultaneous interpretation depending on their clients’ needs. 

• Sight Interpretation: The interpretation of written English text for an individual who doesn’t read or fully understand the English language.
• Consecutive Interpretation: The interpretation of spoken language after the speaker pauses. It requires fast and accurate translation to prevent unnecessary delays at hearings, trials, and meetings.
• Simultaneous Interpretation: The real-time interpretation of spoken language, most commonly used by interpreters who use American Sign Language, to render interpretations as people in a courtroom or other settings speak.

Court Interpreter Work Environment

Court interpreters can work in a wide range of settings outside county, city, state, and federal courts. They may also work in schools, detention centers, hospitals, and conference centers, and some work remotely as contractors or freelancers. Assignments can vary by employment type, and interpreters may find themselves involved in high-stakes cases. 

Most court interpreters work part time, though hospitals, schools, and detention centers may opt to hire full-time interpreters. Their work schedules can be erratic depending on their clients’ needs, often requiring meetings at night and during weekends. The average court interpreter salary reflects both the number of hours worked and the type of environment. 

How to Become a Court Interpreter

The process to become a court interpreter, aside from learning (and fluently speaking and reading) another language, includes earning a bachelor’s degree, honing imperative skills, and earning the certifications required for specific roles.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum required education. Fields of study such as business, communications, and foreign language are common. Medical humanities degrees can also provide ample foundational knowledge, particularly for court interpreters planning to work in patient advocacy or other culturally sensitive roles. 

Gain Experience

Most court interpreters enter the field without experience, but those pursuing freelance work or self-employment should seek opportunities to gain experience wherever they can. Small translation and interpretation companies often offer part-time positions or internships. 

Develop Specific Skills

Honing the right set of skills can vastly increase the typical court interpreter salary. The following are the most important:

• Language Proficiency: Fluency in the written and oral forms of both English and a second language. This should include vocabulary, grammar, and colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions.
• Legal Terminology: Understanding legal terminology in both languages is another essential skill that can have a major impact on a court interpreter’s ability to provide quality services.
• Cultural Competence: Cultural competence ensures that court interpreters can avoid miscommunication, which may lead to serious errors in court proceedings.
• Listening and Memory Skills: The ability to listen closely to a passage, then repeat it back to the client in a second language is the very foundation of the role.

Pursue Certification

Court interpreters who aspire to work at the federal level must pass the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE). This examination is only offered for those interpreting English and Spanish. Although interpreters who translate Navajo and Haitian Creole may also become certified at the federal level, no examination is required—the courts select interpreters who meet their strict certification criteria, which include professional qualifications and language proficiency. 

Court Interpreter Salary and Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for interpreters and translators was about $57,090 as of May 2023. Those working in government positions, representing most court interpreter salaries, earned more than $64,000, and those working in professional, technical, and scientific roles earned more than $59,000. 

The BLS predicts that positions for interpreters, including court interpreters, will increase by 4% between 2022 and 2032, about the same rate of growth of the labor market as a whole. An increasingly diverse population in the United States will be a key factor, driving demand for bilingual and trilingual interpreters and translators in courts. 

Do Your Part to Ensure Justice as a Court Interpreter

Court interpreters are essential to the delivery of justice in the United States. The Constitution guarantees fair trials, and court interpreters play a crucial role in providing them. 

Wilson College Online’s Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare and Medical Humanities is an excellent degree option for aspiring court interpreters. The program’s focus on cultural sensitivity and advocacy complements students’ language competencies while helping to improve their communication, conflict resolution, and stress management skills.

Find out how Wilson College Online can help you play a role in making the justice system more equitable. 

Recommended Readings

Why Emotional Intelligence Is Important in the Workplace

How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Benefits of a Liberal Studies Degree

Sources:

American Profession Guide, Skills Needed to Excel as a Court Interpreter

Houston Chronicle, “Roles and Duties of Court Interpreters”

The Law, Court Interpreters: Who They Are and Why They’re Important for U.S. Courts

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interpreters and Translators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Interview With a Judiciary Interpreter and Translator”

Zippia, What Does a Court Interpreter Do?