Editors vs Interpreters and Translators: $78K vs $60K Median Pay

Editors vs Interpreters and Translators: what changes?

Consider Editors if you want to plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. Consider Interpreters and Translators if you would rather interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Editors (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Editors and Interpreters and Translators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Editors

National median pay (2025): $77,920
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,900

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Editors brief

Interpreters and Translators

National median pay (2025): $60,170
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,000

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Interpreters and Translators brief

How the national numbers differ

Editors has the edge on median pay

Editors is at $77,920, compared with $60,170 for Interpreters and Translators.

Interpreters and Translators has the edge on projected growth

Interpreters and Translators is at 2% projected growth, compared with -1.1% projected growth for Editors.

Editors has the edge on annual openings

Editors is at 7,900 annual openings, compared with 6,000 annual openings for Interpreters and Translators.

48.8/ 100

Editors

45.3/ 100

Interpreters and Translators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence