by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Sign Language Interpretation & Translation explores Sign Language Interpretation And Translation. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Function As Simultaneous Interpreters Of American Sign Language. Continue reading for the important information every sign language interpretation & translation major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sign language interpretation & translation programs.
Across the country, sign language interpretation & translation draws strong interest, with 1,420 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sign Language Interpretation & Translation Schools ranking analyzes these 114 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sign language interpretation & translation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sign language interpretation & translation programs later in this article.
Coursework for Sign Language Interpretation & Translation develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sign language interpretation & translation graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a sign language interpretation & translation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a sign language interpretation & translation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sign language interpretation & translation degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 156 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 438 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 362 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 457 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to sign language interpretation & translation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.7% |
| Master’s degree | 27.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sign language interpretation & translation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in sign language interpretation & translation opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to sign language interpretation & translation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sign language interpretation & translation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of sign language interpretation & translation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,601 |
| 4 years | $38,080 |
| 5 years | $43,723 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sign language interpretation & translation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sign language interpretation & translation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
With 114 different sign language interpretation & translation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sign language interpretation & translation school rankings to help you.
Those considering sign language interpretation & translation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| American Sign Language (ASL) | 879 |
| Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages | 10 |
| American Sign Language, Other | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
