Do professional translators need a license in South Dakota?

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

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

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

Most people become a Professional Translator in South Dakota 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 Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), professional translators in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $53,140. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.50 times the national average for this occupation.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 230 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 Dakota interpreters and translators earn a median annual wage of $53,140 ($25.55/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -11.7% below the national median of $60,170 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $53,140 ($25.55/hr)
25th percentile: $47,040 per year
75th percentile: $65,210 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,320 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,730 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 230
Versus national median: -11.7% below the U.S. median of $60,170
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.50 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

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

South Dakota employs about 230 professional translators earning a median $53,140 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 Dakota

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	Lake Region State College	68.5	$5,520	$60,667	52%	Yes*	280 mi
2	Johnson County Community College	55.0	$2,424 in-state / $5,688 out-of-state	$52,956	31%	Yes*	428 mi
3	Century College	52.6	$6,214	$54,401	31%	Yes*	318 mi
4	Community College of Aurora	47.0	$4,470 in-state / $17,070 out-of-state	$51,722	33%	Yes*	412 mi
5	Metropolitan Community College Area	46.7	$3,375 in-state / $4,950 out-of-state	$53,376	29%	Yes*	260 mi
6	Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City	45.8	$3,630 in-state / $9,600 out-of-state	$50,121	34%	Yes*	424 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 Dakota employs approximately 230 professional translators according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $53,140 ¹. The state’s concentration of professional translator jobs is 1.50x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Dakota, 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 Dakota): $53,140 per year ¹

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

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

What do professional translators earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for professional translators in South Dakota is $53,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,730 and experienced professionals can earn $75,320 or more ¹.

How to Become a Professional Translator in South Dakota

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 Dakota

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 Dakota

Interpreters and Translators Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	130	$53,140	$57,970	$36,730	$75,320
Sioux City	80	$49,420	$48,780	$39,530	$53,050

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 Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 230 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 Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Dakota.

How much do professional translators earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for professional translators in South Dakota is $53,140, which is $6,300 below the national median of $59,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

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)