Do professional translators need a license in Montana?

No statewide license is required for professional translators in Montana. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Professional Translator in Montana (2026)

Q: How long does professional translator training take in Montana?

Most people become a Professional Translator in Montana through language training plus a portfolio or optional translator certificate; most states do not license translators. Court interpreter credentials are a different path.

Q: How much do professional translators earn in Montana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), professional translators in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,850. Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.34 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for professional translators in Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 60 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Montana interpreters and translators earn a median annual wage of $47,850 ($23.01/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 60 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -20.5% below the national median of $60,170 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,850 ($23.01/hr)
25th percentile: $41,340 per year
75th percentile: $52,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $60,940 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,520 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 60
Versus national median: -20.5% below the U.S. median of $60,170
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.34 - this occupation is less concentrated in Montana than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

Montana employs about 60 professional translators earning a median $47,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Professional Translator here means completing language training plus a portfolio or optional translator certificate; most states do not license translators. Court interpreter credentials are a different path.

Compare Professional Translator Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Weber State University	72.8	$6,557 in-state / $17,545 out-of-state	$69,883	46%	Yes*	398 mi
2	Lake Region State College	68.5	$5,520	$60,667	52%	Yes*	571 mi
3	Great Basin College	52.3	$3,923 in-state / $13,883 out-of-state	$57,602	41%	Yes*	482 mi
4	Community College of Aurora	47.0	$4,470 in-state / $17,070 out-of-state	$51,722	33%	Yes*	586 mi
5	Portland Community College	46.0	$5,220 in-state / $10,440 out-of-state	$55,238	18%	Yes*	571 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Montana employs approximately 60 professional translators according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,850 ¹. Nationally, professional translator employment is projected to grow 1.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 6,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Professional Translator in Montana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: language study, short translator course, or portfolio work (find programs)
Typical timeline: language training plus a portfolio or optional translator certificate; most states do not license translators. Court interpreter credentials are a different path
Median wage (Montana): $47,850 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Professional Translator in Montana

How to become a Professional Translator in Montana? Complete language training plus a portfolio or optional translator certificate; most states do not license translators. Court interpreter credentials are a different path. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish language training plus a portfolio or optional translator certificate; most states do not license translators. Court interpreter credentials are a different path. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Montana? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the Montana path.

What do professional translators earn in Montana? The median annual wage for professional translators in Montana is $47,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,520 and experienced professionals can earn $60,940 or more ¹.

How to Become a Professional Translator in Montana

Build language and translation skill. Complete a short translator course or assemble a translation portfolio. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional translator credentials. A translator certificate can help hiring. It is not a statewide occupational license.
Do not treat court interpreting as this path. State court-interpreter credentials are a different occupation. Most states do not license translators. Do not apply to a licensing board for a translator license that does not exist.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Professional Translator License Requirements in Montana

Most states do not license translators. The path is language skill, a portfolio, and optional translator certificates. Court interpreter credentials are a different occupation.

Typical path

Build language and translation skill.
Optional translator certificates.
Do not apply for a court-interpreter license as the translator path.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Professional Translator Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for professional translators in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 60 professional translators ¹. Nationally, professional translator employment is projected to grow 1.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do professional translators earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for professional translators in Montana is $47,850, which is $11,590 below the national median of $59,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Explore More Trades in Montana

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)