Jobs Similar to Interpreters and Translators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to interpreters and translators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, Librarians and Media Collections Specialists and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School).
Interpreters and Translators: $60,170 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Interpreters and Translators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 73% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 73% | $68,270+13% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 72% | $74,260+23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 71% | $66,810+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 70% | $64,830+8% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 70% | $97,870+63% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 70% | $64,330+7% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 70% | $61,540+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | 70% | $45,920−24% | Training or associate |
| 10 | School Psychologists | 70% | $95,990+60% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Word Processors and Typists | 70% | $49,280−18% | High school |
| 12 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 70% | $62,680+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 70% | $41,670−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 70% | $54,210−10% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Archivists | 70% | $64,550+7% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 69% | $63,970+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | File Clerks | 69% | $43,600−28% | High school |
| 18 | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 69% | $55,570−8% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Tutors | 69% | $43,350−28% | Training or associate |
| 20 | EditorsSame group | 69% | $77,920+29% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
73% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
73% similar · $68,270 (+13%) · Graduate degree
- 3Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
72% similar · $74,260 (+23%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Special Education Teachers, Middle School
71% similar · $66,810 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Special Education Teachers, Preschool
70% similar · $64,830 (+8%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Speech-Language Pathologists
70% similar · $97,870 (+63%) · Graduate degree
- 7Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
70% similar · $64,330 (+7%) · Graduate degree
- 8Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
70% similar · $61,540 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
70% similar · $45,920 (−24%) · Training or associate
- 10School Psychologists
70% similar · $95,990 (+60%) · Graduate degree
- 11Word Processors and Typists
70% similar · $49,280 (−18%) · High school
- 12Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
70% similar · $62,680 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
70% similar · $41,670 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
70% similar · $54,210 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 15Archivists
70% similar · $64,550 (+7%) · Graduate degree
- 16Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
69% similar · $63,970 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17File Clerks
69% similar · $43,600 (−28%) · High school
- 18Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
69% similar · $55,570 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 19Tutors
69% similar · $43,350 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 20Editors
69% similar · $77,920 (+29%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than interpreters and translators.
- Editors69% similar · $77,920 (+29%)
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School72% similar · $74,260 (+23%)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School71% similar · $66,810 (+11%)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool70% similar · $64,830 (+8%)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education69% similar · $63,970 (+6%)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education70% similar · $62,680 (+4%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants73% similar · Training or associate
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan70% similar · Training or associate
- Word Processors and Typists70% similar · High school
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs70% similar · Training or associate
- File Clerks69% similar · High school
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants69% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for interpreters and translators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where interpreters and translators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like interpreters and translators
What jobs are most similar to interpreters and translators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (73% similar), Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (73% similar), Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (72% similar), Special Education Teachers (Middle School) (71% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (70% similar).
Which jobs like interpreters and translators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Speech-Language Pathologists ($97,870, +63%; usually a graduate degree), School Psychologists ($95,990, +60%; usually a graduate degree) and Editors ($77,920, +29%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with interpreters and translators ($60,170). Without more preparation than interpreters and translators usually need: Editors, Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.