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  5. Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters

Exploring Trades and Occupations

Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters

On this page

  • Job description
  • Advancement and mobility
  • Hourly wage
  • Job prospects for 2021-2025
  • Sectors of activity
  • Training and requirements
  • Main skills and characteristics
  • Personality profiles (RIASEC)
  • Additional information

Job description

Translators translate texts from one language into another.

Interpreters express orally in one language what has been said in another language.

Terminologists list terms, define them, and search for their equivalents in another language. They are self-employed or work in:

  • Translation and interpreting firms or internal services
  • The government
  • Large companies
  • International organizations
  • From the media

Sign language interpreters express in sign language what has been said in spoken language (and vice versa). They are self-employed or work in:

  • Educational institutions
  • Interpretation services
  • Social services
  • Courts of law
  • Government services
  • Television stations

Environment

  • Controlled ambient temperature

Main tasks

Translators and translator-editors

  • Translating written documents from one language to another.
  • Faithfully convey the content, context, and style of the source text.
  • Adapt technological applications and technical documents to another language and culture.
  • Edit and correct the translated texts.
  • Train and supervise other translators as required.

Terminologists

  • Establish terminology specific to a sphere of activity.
  • Carry out terminological research to prepare and maintain databases.
  • Manage, update, and disseminate the linguistic information collected.
  • Provide consulting services to translators, interpreters, and technical writers.

Interpreters

  • Express in one language what was said in another language.
  • Make simultaneous, consecutive, or whispered interpretations.
  • Provide interpretation services before courts of law or tribunals.
  • Provide interpretation services for conferences, meetings, and symposia.
  • Provide interpretation, if required, for travellers and native or foreign language speakers.
  • Train other interpreters, as required.

Sign Language Interpreters

  • Express in sign language what was said in speech language (and vice versa) simultaneously or consecutively.
  • Work in French and in Quebec Sign Language (LSQ).

Advancement and mobility

  • These individuals may specialize in various fields (administrative, literary, scientific translation, etc.).
  • Interpreters may specialize in court, parliamentary, or conference interpreting.

Hourly wage

The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2019 to 2021.
Minimum
$19.23
Median
$29.00
Maximum
$43.27

Job prospects for 2021-2025

sr.comparaison-region.titre

Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.

Job prospects for 2021-2025

Job prospects

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Good

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available

Total jobs for 2020

All of Québec

8,000

All of Québec

na

Gender distribution

All of Québec

Not available.
70.2% Female
29.8% Male

Not available.
  • 70.2% Female
  • 29.8% Male

Job types

All of Québec

Not available.
Full time
Part time

Not available.
  • Full time
  • Part time

Yearly wage on 2015

All of Québec

$52,000

All of Québec

Other characteristics

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for men
  • None

All of Québec

  • Non traditional for men
  • None

Sectors of activity

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Advertising, Public Relations and Related Services and Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
    NAICS 5418, 5419
    59% of jobs
  2. Public Administration
    NAICS 91
    11% of jobs
  3. Information and Cultural Industries
    NAICS 51
    3% of jobs
  4. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    NAICS 81
    3% of jobs
  5. Legal and Accounting Services
    NAICS 5411, 5412
    3% of jobs
  6. Others
    21% of jobs

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Advertising, Public Relations and Related Services and Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
    NAICS 5418, 5419
    59% of jobs
  2. Public Administration
    NAICS 91
    11% of jobs
  3. Information and Cultural Industries
    NAICS 51
    3% of jobs
  4. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    NAICS 81
    3% of jobs
  5. Legal and Accounting Services
    NAICS 5411, 5412
    3% of jobs
  6. Others
    21% of jobs