A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NATIONAL STUDY ON
INTERPRETER INCOME
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The success and relevance of this study will depend on the participation of interpreters like YOU. Follow the link above to get notified when the survey goes live, and to receive a copy of the results once they're published.
ABOUT us
CJ
Steve
Hello! I'm Steve Smith. I am a Deaf-parented interpreter, educator, and mentor from Sacramento, California. In 2023, in collaboration with CJ and The Insightful Interpreter, I co-hosted a book club project on Deaf Eyes on Interpreting, aimed at elevating Deaf perspectives within the interpreting profession. Following this project, CJ and I had in-depth discussions about interpreter income and the disparities within our field. Driven to address these issues, we are now gathering accurate and actionable data to highlight the real-world impacts of interpreter pay and working conditions, advocating for a more equitable profession.
Hello, I'm CJ (Colleen Jones)! I'm a hearing interpreter, educator, and researcher from Seattle. This research project started for me when I developed a professional development course all about the business side of freelance interpreting for my company, The Insightful Interpreter. I recognized a need for more data and dialogue around interpreter rates and income, and also started paying attention to the stories that we tell ourselves and each other about "making a living" as an interpreter. I've partnered with Steve to develop the National Interpreter Income Survey, and I'm so excited to learn more and share the results with you!
the study
We are undertaking this first-of-its-kind study to address a lack of data on interpreter incomes, rates, and information that could give these numbers context.
We know that dialogue is needed, but it's hard to have meaningful conversations without data
Anecdotally, interpreters seem to be choosing different careers, not investing in their skills or preparing for retirement, and accepting jobs they aren't qualified for.
Is income related to these decisions?
In the interpreting community, we tell ourselves a lot of stories about money ('Interpreters in ____ charge really high rates,' 'It's impossible to truly make a living as an interpreter,' etc).
But we don't yet have the data to say what is true or not.
We all feel the impact of the 'interpreter shortage' and have concerns about unethical & underqualified colleagues, but we don't yet understand how income plays a role
Our colleagues have been sounding the alarm about inequity in the field
Interpreters from marginalized communities experience multiple barriers to achieving equitable income. Among other things, Interpreters of Color are underrepresented and tokenized in assignment selection, and Deaf Interpreters are not offered as many opportunities as their hearing colleagues.
The first step to addressing any of these issues is gathering information about what interpreters are currently experiencing. We are planning a national, first-of-its-kind survey, to be distributed in early 2025.
Here is some more information:
We are collecting data that will benefit you and your community
We want to understand how interpreter income impacts the Deaf community: we will be overlaying numbers with other relevant information This is a first step towards improving equity: data helps us tell the stories of diverse interpreters You are not alone: see how your experiences align or diverge with those of your colleagues
Sharing information about money can be uncomfortable. We respect your privacy.
Data collection will be anonymous: we will not ask for your name or contact information Data reporting will be in aggregate: we will never share data from just one person We are researchers, not big business: your data will be shared with the community, not controlled by a company that benefits from keeping interpreter rates low
Collecting data is only half the battle. We will be sharing meaningful, contextualized results.
Comprehensive data analysis: adds context & nuance to the numbers Publication of a free report: with helpful graphics, this will be available to anyone Our goal is to share information & open dialogue: in accessible & inclusive formats
The interpreting world is rife with anecdotes and 'gut feelings' about money, but until now has been lacking evidence. We aim to change that.
With in-depth data, careful methods that respect your privacy, and publicly shared results, we hope to open dialogue about equity, what it means to 'earn a living' as an interpreter, and how to improve the access and experience of the Deaf community.
We hope you will sign up for our email list, complete the survey when it goes live, and share with your colleagues. Please get in touch with any questions!
FAQ
Who can take this survey?
This survey is for anyone who worked as an ASL interpreter in the United States in the year 2024. Whether you are Deaf or hearing, staff or freelance, full time or part time, we encourage you to respond. The more responses we get, the more information we can share.
How will you report & share the findings?
We are planning to widely distribute the results of this study in a variety of formats. We will produce a free, downloadable report, have applied to present at the RID National conference, and are considering publishing a series of articles in VIEWS, submitting to a peer-reviewed journal, and creating a self-paced course. We will also consider requests to present both virtually and in person on a case-by-case basis.
What kind of personal & financial information will you be asking for?
The survey asks about your background, demographics, and location. It does not ask for your name or contact info. The financial section asks for your gross income from interpreting in 2024. We are distributing this survey during tax time so you will have easy access to your W2s, 1099s, etc. You will have the option to skip the financial section if you prefer.
Is this different than the RID survey I saw go out in November?
This is a different survey! The RID survey is much broader in scope, and we are going into much more depth on interpreter income, rates, finances, and sentiment. We think the results from each survey will complement each other nicely, but they will be published and shared separately.