2022 Language Translation Degree Guide
A Recent Jump in Language Translation Degrees
Language Translation was the 673rd most popular major in the 2019-2020 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 874 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 60.9% increase in language translation degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 342.
There are 45 schools offering degrees in language translation in the United States. This year's Best Language Translation Schools ranking compares 16 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of language translation programs later in this article.
Best Language Translation Schools by Degree
Requirements for Getting a Degree in Language Translation
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in language translation is talking to others to convey information effectively. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
Prior Education for a Language Translation Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific language translation careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Language Translation Degree Types
There are many different language translation degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in language translation to something that takes less time like a . Different language translation degrees vary in how long they take.
Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
---|---|---|
Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to language translation, with approximately 36.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for language translation workers below.
Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Doctoral Degree | 37.8% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 30.1% |
Master’s Degree | 21.7% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 5.6% |
Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.3% |
62.8% of language translation workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in language translation careers have.

The education level required is different depending on the language translation career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for Language Translation Majors
High Growth Projected for Language Translation Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your language translation degree? Language Translation careers are expected to grow 15.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to language translation.
Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
---|---|---|
Interpreters and Translators | 80,300 | 17.7% |
Foreign Language and Literature Professors | 39,100 | 11.7% |
Language Translation Degree Salary Potential
As you might expect, salaries for language translation graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Language Translation Majors
Salaries for language translation graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers language translation grads often go into.
Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
---|---|
Foreign Language and Literature Professors | $79,160 |
Interpreters and Translators | $55,230 |
Getting Your Language Translation Degree
With over 137 different language translation degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased language translation school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Language Translation
Study Areas in Language Translation
One of 5 majors within the Linguistics & Comparative Literature area of study, Language Translation has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
---|---|
Linguistics | 3,129 |
Modern Languages | 3,075 |
Comparative Literature | 1,093 |
Other Linguistic, Comparative, & Related Language Studies & Services | 351 |
Applied Linguistics | 163 |
View All Language Translation Related Majors >
References
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Image Credit: By Pandit Rahul Sanskrutayan, Banshidhar Mohanty under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
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