Does court interpreting pay well?
That depends on which court, and on your perspective. In some parts of the United States the pay is dismal; in others it is more reasonable. As of January 2000, the federal courts pay $305 per day to per diem interpreters (Before that, the per diem rate had remained at $250/day for nine years.) When interpreters are hired by private parties, the rate of remuneration is negotiable. Most court interpreters are freelancers (self-employed) and considered independent contractors. Where the volume of work is greatest, the courts tend to have full-time staff positions, almost all of them for Spanish-English. Starting staff interpreter annual salaries may range from around $30,000 up to around $80,000. Freelance interpreters and translators can earn over $100,000 per year, but generally not without working long hours. These are rough figures at best, and to this writer’s knowledge, no systematic compensation survey has ever been done in this field.
That depends on the court, the jursidiction, the need in your language, and the cost of living in your area. There may be considerable difference between federal court and state court rates. In some states the pay is low; in others it is more reasonable. The current federal court rates are posted here. When interpreters are hired by private parties, the rate of remuneration is negotiable. Most court interpreters are freelancers (self-employed) and treated as independent contractors, although this determination varies with jurisdiction. Where the volume of work is greatest, courts have created full-time staff positions, almost all of them for Spanish interpreters. Starting salaries for staff interpreters may range from $30,000 to $80,000. Freelance interpreters and translators can earn over $100,000 per year, but generally not without working long hours.
