Government Translation Job FAQ
The United States has always been a melting pot of different cultures, and that fact is more evident now than ever before. Modern technology has helped to globalize the U.S. economy, and a steady influx of immigrants from around the world continues to broaden the country's diversity. As such, the U.S. government must rely on a large pool of skilled translators and interpreters to facilitate myriad forms of cross-cultural communication in today's global society. Government translation jobs exist in many different sectors, providing a wide range of career opportunities for experienced linguists.
Primary Fields of Employment
Translators can find work in many areas of the U.S. government. For instance, the judicial system employs translators and interpreters in federal, state and city courts. The Department of Labor lists a few other prominent fields of government employment for linguists, including diplomatic conference interpreting and private escort interpreting for both American and foreign dignitaries. In addition, translators can pursue positions with government agencies such as the FBI, which hires linguists to assist in the translation and analysis of materials with national security ramifications.
Another important area where translators are needed is the military. The Army and other branches of military depend on soldiers and other personnel who speak foreign languages in order to translate source materials and interact with non-English-speaking individuals in the field.
Education Requirements
Aside from being fluent in at least two languages, government translators must come equipped with education and work backgrounds suitable for specific positions. Educational requirements vary greatly depending on the position, but most government translation jobs require at least a bachelor's degree, according to the Department of Labor. Majoring in a language may help, though it is not usually necessary. Ultimately, job seekers with advanced degrees and extensive knowledge in a particular field such as law or technology stand the best chance to find employment in various niches of government.
Advanced Certifications
Job candidates who obtain extra certifications will enhance their prospects of landing a translating position with the government. There is no one form of certification that applies to all government agencies. However, the Department of Labor mentions the American Translators Association as one of the better-known institutions offering translation certification programs in most languages. Each government agency tends to have its own additional certification process. For instance, the U.S. District Court's programs include the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Program, the State Court Interpreter Certification Program and the National Judiciary Interpreter and Translation Program.
Then there's the Department of State, which has a three-test certification series for prospective translators and interpreters. Additionally, the International Association of Conference Interpreters conducts certification for conference interpreters interested in working in settings such as United Nations assemblies. Agencies like the FBI and the Army also have specific linguist certification rules that apply to specific fields of employment, and may require extra qualifications such as combat training and interrogation techniques.
Languages in Demand
The US government has a particularly high demand for translators of certain languages. Besides English, the languages with the highest demand include Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Arabic and other Middle Eastern tongues, according to the Department of Labor.
Career Outlook
Government translation professionals can expect faster-than-average employment growth in the future. Roughly 9 percent of all translators in the U.S. worked in areas of government in 2008, according to the Department of Labor. The agency projected that employment of interpreters and translators will increase 22 percent from 2008 to 2018 period. Government translators also enjoy relatively high earnings compared with linguists in other sectors. The median annual wages of all interpreters and translators in 2008 was around $39,000, according to the Department of Labor. In contrast, language specialists working for the federal government earned an average of nearly $80,000.
