Charles Blake Heisler
4/29/03
Interpreter Pay
[This article takes a look at] what I now realize as what must be a barrier in the
education sector of the Deaf Culture. The ability of the men and women who
wish to dedicate their lives to a career of helping Deaf students and
Interpreting in a variety of settings to earn a decent wage. Since my paper
deals with a historical progression of Deaf Culture there seems to be one
area which has not fared well and that is the earning potential of
Interpreters. My readings indicate that there is no set standard and ones
credentials will bare more or less weight depending upon the State where he
seeks employment. There are member organizations at the federal level such
as the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and the National
Association for the Deaf (NAD) which have accredited credentials they offer
upon completion of certain criteria. However in some States neither are
required. I do believe however that this will soon change. There is work
in progress to combine the resources of RID and NAD and consolidate their
certifications. For an example of one States attempt to determine pay for
Interpreters I'll share what has happened in Bibb County, Georgia. Bibb
County Public Schools salary schedule for ASL/English Interpreters. The
contract time is for 182 days and 8 hours per day. An Interpreter with a
state level credential in Interpreting and Transliterating but with no
Bachelor's Degree can expect to earn in the range of $24,722.88 - $31,973.76
annually. A Bachelor's Degree will earn an additional $1000.00 supplement.
An Interpreter with a Masters Degree will be granted an additional
$2000.00. A certificate of Interpretation by (RID) or a certificate of
Transliteration will earn a $750.00 supplement. If a Bachelors Degree is
associated with the Interpreters and Transliterators certificate the $750.00
supplement will be accompanied by an additional $1000.00. The beginning
salary is based upon a range of $25,669.28 - $33,196.80. The peak range is
the Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration with a
Masters Degree. The range here is $29,658.72 - $38,251.04 (Elton 2002).
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee prepared a "Salary Survey of Sign
Language Interpreters in Post-Secondary Settings"(2000). They list many
Schools covering many States so I will include a sampling beginning with the
University of Arizona. Their salary range is $23.5 - $27.5K with the
average salary being $26.5K based on a 10mo. contract. The University of
Minnesota's salary range is $23 - $35.2K and both 10 and 12 month contracts
are available. Virginia Tech Universities salary range is from $31.6 -
$36.9K and for a 12 month contract. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Labor
published the following estimate for Interpreters and Translators. The mean
hourly wage was $14.16 and the annual wage being $29,450. I included the
salary information in my paper and even though some of the salaries seem
rather adequate, I believe they are the exception and not the rule. A low
salary and the ever increasing liability which goes with being an
Interpreter I fear may discourage some people from this Profession. The low
pay however does not reflect the importance and reward that goes with this
job.
(2003, April 29). Deaf Time-Line. ASLinfo.com. Retrieved 28, April 2003:
<http://www.aslinfo.com/trivia.cfm>
Govt. (1999) 1999 National Occupational Employment and Wage
Estimates-Interpreters and Translators. U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Retrieved 28, April 2003:
<http://www.bls.gov/oes/1999/oes273091.htm>
(2000, April). Salary Survey of Sign Language Interpreters in Post-Secondary
Settings. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Retrieved 27, April 2003:
<http://www.pepnet.org/pdf/salary_survey.pdf>
Elton, Amy- BA, CI and CT. (2002, March). Georgia School System Establishes
Equitable Salary Scale. Lead Interpreter, Bibb County Public Schools.
Retrieved 27, April 2003.
<http://www.rid.org/scale.pdf>