The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2022 - 11

Figure 1: Respondent Demographics
Gender
Male
Female
All other
Age
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Percent
28%
68%
1%
Percent
<1%
8%
19%
26%
29%
15%
ATA Member
Yes
No
Years of
Professional
Experience
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41+
Language Services Role*
Self-employed/freelance translator
Self-employed/freelance interpreter
All other
*Multiple responses possible
Percent
9%
18%
15%
16%
12%
15%
7%
6%
3%
Percent
85%
12%
12.7%
y Bilingual/dual role
employee who also
translates
y Bilingual/dual role
employee who also
interprets
y Language services
company owner, president,
or executive
Demographic information
was obtained for detailed
analysis by, among other
factors, age, gender, years
of professional experience,
education, ATA membership,
geographic region, and
certification and interpreter
certification/credentials.
This comprehensive data
allows users to compare their
income, hourly rates, and
www.ata-chronicle.online
per-word rates to individuals
with similar profiles.
(See Figures 1-3.)
Some Key Findings
Respondent Demographics:
Survey respondents had
varying backgrounds and
experience. More than twothirds
of respondents were
female, more than 44% were
over 55 years of age, and
nearly one-third were ATAcertified.
Slightly more than
half the respondents (54%)
identified as White, 16% as
Hispanic/Latino/a/x, just over
9% as Asian American/Asian,
and 2% as Black. Almost 10%
identified as Mixed.
I'm thinking about becoming a company
owner. Will the change be worth it financially?
Starting your own language services company may be a
way to increase revenue. With data from your peers, you
will know what your take-home could actually be rather
than just assuming.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook says
translators and interpreters earn $52,330/
year on average. Can I trust this number?
Currently, independent contractors are not adequately
represented in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' report.
With your help, ATA will have the data to lobby the
agency for a more reliable revenue statistic.
In terms of education,
more than 59% of
respondents held a master's
degree or higher. Years of
experience were also fairly
even, at about 15% for those
reporting between 11-15,
16-20, and 26-30 years of
experience, with a mean of
20 years.
Income Varied by
Employment Classification:
Translation and interpreting
company owners reported
the highest mean gross
income at $142,271, which
was well ahead of staff
translators ($94,091) and
staff interpreters ($80,787),
freelance interpreters
American Translators Association 11
Percent
89%
11%
5 Ways the ATA Compensation Survey Can
Help in Your Business and Career
I want to know if I'm charging enough. How
do my rates compare with everyone else's?
While your rates really have to stand on their own based
on your specialty, language pair, experience, and more,
having access to industry-wide data will help you know if
you're in the same ballpark as everyone else--or if you
can charge more.
I provide translation/interpreting services as
an employee. Is my salary in line with other
language company employees?
There are a lot of variables to consider when it comes
to compensation for your services, but knowing what
other staff translators and interpreters earn will show
you if your salary is in the same range as others in the
profession.
I'm considering a new specialty. What should I
charge for my services?
It takes a lot of time, energy, and planning to take on a
new specialty. Knowing what revenue this specialty can
bring in will help you determine if it's worth the work.
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The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2022

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