Do professional translators need a license in South Carolina?

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

How to Become a Professional Translator in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How long does professional translator training take in South Carolina?

Most people become a Professional Translator in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), professional translators in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,860. Employment concentration in South Carolina is roughly 0.68 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 South Carolina?

South Carolina currently employs approximately 520 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

South Carolina interpreters and translators earn a median annual wage of $50,860 ($24.45/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 520 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -15.5% below the national median of $60,170 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,860 ($24.45/hr)
25th percentile: $44,400 per year
75th percentile: $61,040 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,310 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,860 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 520
Versus national median: -15.5% below the U.S. median of $60,170
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Carolina than the national average

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

South Carolina employs about 520 professional translators earning a median $50,860 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 South Carolina

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	Johnston Community College	64.4	$2,756 in-state / $8,900 out-of-state	$48,144	37%	Yes*	184 mi
2	Cape Fear Community College	57.9	$2,748 in-state / $8,892 out-of-state	$48,346	34%	Yes*	164 mi
3	Surry Community College	57.7	$2,668 in-state / $8,812 out-of-state	$43,856	6%	Yes*	183 mi
4	Blue Ridge Community College	57.3	$2,660 in-state / $8,804 out-of-state	$40,879	50%	Yes*	145 mi
5	Alamance Community College	50.9	$2,592 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$41,411	39%	Yes*	180 mi
6	Durham Technical Community College	49.8	$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state	$57,868	45%	Yes*	188 mi
7	Central Georgia Technical College	46.5	$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state	$42,979	47%	Yes*	188 mi
8	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	$2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state	$46,657	38%	Yes*	93 mi
9	Sampson Community College	40.5	$2,877 in-state / $9,789 out-of-state	$43,410	56%	—	161 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.

South Carolina employs approximately 520 professional translators according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,860 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 South Carolina, 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 (South Carolina): $50,860 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Professional Translator in South Carolina

How to become a Professional Translator in South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the South Carolina path.

What do professional translators earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for professional translators in South Carolina is $50,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,860 and experienced professionals can earn $75,310 or more ¹.

How to Become a Professional Translator in South Carolina

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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina

Interpreters and Translators Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), interpreters and translators wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	390	$52,640	$60,720	$39,410	$84,920
Columbia	170	$52,200	$54,180	$41,340	$70,860
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	70	$47,370	$55,330	$37,820	$85,430
Spartanburg	60	$61,040	$64,280	$39,660	$112,310
Augusta-Richmond County	40	$48,820	$55,490	$34,050	$97,470
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	40	$39,210	$42,690	$33,330	$49,650
Charleston-North Charleston	N/A	$64,550	$66,420	$40,670	$107,590

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for professional translators in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 520 professional translators ¹. Nationally, professional translator employment is projected to grow 1.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do professional translators earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for professional translators in South Carolina is $50,860, which is $8,580 below the national median of $59,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Carolina

Best Trade Schools in South Carolina (2026)

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

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)