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Career Yatra
Education and Training

Translator

Accurately converts writing from one language to another, retaining the original meaning.

After Class 12GraduationPostgraduateDegreeDiplomaSelf-employmentPrivate Sector

Overview

Translators are professionals who can accurately convert writing from one language to another. Their work is important for making legal, scientific and business texts available to different countries and languages. A good translator would retain the concept and meaning of the original document as much as possible.

Where they work

  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Courtrooms
  • Meeting Rooms
  • Conference Centres

Work environment

The work timings are typically 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. Entrepreneurship: you can set up a private translation company/firm as well as freelancing.

Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.

Skills and interests

This career might suit you if…

  • You like learning/speaking new languages
  • You are able to communicate with others
  • You are a good listener
  • You pay attention to details
LanguagesAny Streamcreatinganalysing

Eligibility and education roadmap

Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.

Route 1

  1. 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream
  2. 2Complete Bachelor's of Art (B.A.) degree in any language of your choice, followed by Master's degree in the same

Alternative route 2

  1. 1Complete Bachelor's of Art (B.A.) degree in any language of your choice, followed by Diploma in any foreign language of your choice

Forms, exams and applications

Not applicable / varies by institution — check directly with your chosen institute.

Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.

Where to apply

This course is offered by the Department of Arts.

Government institutes

  • Anugrah Narayan College, Patna, Bihar
  • Avvaiyar Government College for Women, Karaikal, Puducherry
  • Asutosh College, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmal Kanoi College, Dibrugarh, Assam
  • Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
  • School of Open Learning, New Delhi
  • Ewing Christian College, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
  • Elphinstone College, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Private institutes

Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.

  • Arul Anandar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
  • Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, Kolkata, West Bengal
  • Annai College of Arts and Science, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
  • Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, Punjab
  • Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Acropolis Institute of Management Studies and Research, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
  • Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Distance learning

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.

Career outcomes

Growth path

  • 1Associate Translator
  • 2Translator
  • 3Senior Translator
  • 4Section Head (Translation)
Self-employment possible

Expected income

₹35,000 – ₹1,00,000 per month

The figures are indicative and subject to change.

Source

Related careers to explore

Education and Training

Interpreter

Speech professional who translates between parties speaking languages they don't share.

After Class 12DegreeDiploma
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Education and Training

Foreign Language Teacher

Teaches students to speak, understand and write a new language, along with its cultural history.

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Student action plan

What you can do this month

  • Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
  • Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Languages, Any Stream.
  • Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
  • Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
  • Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.

Example from the field

Shivani Dev — A Conference Interpreter and Translator. She has completed a Bachelor's degree in commerce from Lady Shri Ram college for women after which she has pursued an M.Phil in French, French Language and Literature, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in French Language and Literature from the Centre for French & Francophone Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She is currently involved in working on the Hindi and English translations of Simone de Beauvoir's Le Deuxième Sexe (The Second Sex, 1949).

Source

This profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.

Sources and update notice

  • Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 301 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
  • Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Translator/Salary
  • Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21

Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.