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Earning your master’s degree in translation can prepare you for a dynamic career in one of the country’s fastest-growing industries.

In fact, according to the , the employment of interpreters and translators is expected to grow 18% from 2016 to 2026. This is much faster than the average for all occupations.  In the United States alone, over 3,000 companies employ over 55,000 professionals in various aspects of language services.

Our Extensive List of Careers in Translation

Graduates of master’s degree programs in translation have found employment within the language industry on both a full-time and part-time basis, as both freelancers and in-house employees, and both in the U.S. and abroad. In short, a graduate degree in translation will prepare you for a successful career in the language sector.

We’ve compiled over 40 different opportunities in this post that you can check out, and there are still plenty of other careers out there! Regardless of where you land, the skills you learn in our program will give you the expertise needed to thrive. Discover our list of career categories and specific roles you can explore after earning your master’s in translation.

Careers in Translation: Taking the Traditional Path

If you’re looking to take the traditional translation route, we have some careers for you to explore. Here are some possibilities if you have your master’s in translation:

• Technical translation
• Engineering translation 
• Literary translation
• Scientific translation 
• Journalism and news translation
• Commercial translation
• Corporate and business translation 
• Terminology

No matter your career goals, the diversity of roles offered in translation ensures you will have plenty of opportunities, both within an agency and while freelancing. But beyond traditional careers, there are a variety of other paths available. Let’s explore these specializations.

Specialized Translation Careers

Specialized translation requires in-depth knowledge of the subject matter of a given field to ensure that accuracy and context are maintained between the source and target language. Specialized roles can include those in:

• Legal translation 
• Financial translation
• Medical translation
• Business translation 
• Transport and logistics translation 
• Diplomatic translation
• Community translation and interpretation

Careers in the Growing Field of Localization and Technology

Careers in localization and technology offer a diverse range of opportunities for those who have earned their master’s in translation. These career paths combine linguistic skills, technical expertise, and creative thinking. Opportunities include:

• Software localization
• Game localization
• App localization
• General localization 
• Post-editing translation 
• Multimedia translation 

Plus, no matter which career option you decide to pursue, you can always rely on the help of computer-assisted translation to enhance your skills.

Roles in Interpretation and Communication

Translation and interpretation go hand in hand. Relevant roles in the interpretation and communication space include those focused on:

• Escort interpretation 
• Phone translation 
• Language consulting
• Translation project management
• Vendor management
• Medical interpretation
• Court and legal interpretation

Careers in Education and Training

If you’re interested in the education and training side of the field, some options include:

• Language teaching, by becoming a foreign language teacher, an ESL teacher, or a professor
   
• Specialized language translation, focused on any number of languages
   
• Working with educational materials that promote accessibility, such as in the subtitling space

Niche and Emerging Fields in the Translation Sector

Looking for something more unique? Check out these niche areas that you can specialize in to make a difference using your degree:

• Military translation, where you will engage in translating sensitive materials, nontechnical translations, assisting military personnel with local purchases, offering interpretation at military traffic control points, and more
   
• Museum translation that involves interpreting artifacts, documents, exhibit materials, and beyond
   
• Tourism translation, where you can help translate brochures, travel guides, website content, menus, and more
   
• Transcreation, where translation meets creativity in global marketing initiatives
   
• International commerce, where you can help buy and sell goods on behalf of companies in different countries
   

Other Resources to Review

Check out the  for more information on the exciting opportunities that await you as a language industry professional.

To get a better feel for what you can do with an M.A. in Translation, browse some of the language  posted on the website of Multilingual Computing, Inc.

Earn Your Master’s Degree in Translation Online

Looking for degree options? Kent State offers a completely online M.A. in Translation program that allows students to conveniently earn their degree from anywhere in the world. 

Contact us to learn more about the benefits of enrolling in Kent State’s program, see program requirements and costs, and discover what you’ll need to apply.