Put your knowledge of languages to work! Translators often travel the globe in this highly satisfying career. Successful translators must be able to meet tight deadlines, have strong interpersonal skills and be able to ensure consistent terminology when translated material is revised. Being fluent in at least two languages is a necessity: the more languages you’ve mastered, the broader your career options.
Education Requirements:
A university degree in a related field such as Languages or Linguistics plus courses in linguistic transfer and two years' experience as a translator may substitute for a specialized university degree. You also need specialization in two languages, one of which should be an official language of the country where you’re working. You usually need three languages to obtain work in an international context.
Job Prospects:
You’ll be competing with a large number of recent graduates, but if you can speak Spanish and/or Asian languages, you’ll be in high demand. Remember, your skill has international applications; you can work anywhere in the world!
Earning Power:
Average annual earnings for a translator in Canada are $40,000, but different industries have different salaries. For example, working in the transcription services industry pays approx. $41,777, while translating foreign toys/games pays approx. $52,000.
