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Court Interpreter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Calling All Vietnamese Court Interpreters! Do you have Vietnamese interpreting experience in a legal setting? Metlang is seeking experienced Vietnamese court interpreters for legal proceedings to ...

COURT INTERPRETER - 22012015 Pay Plan: State Courts System Position Number: 22012015 Salary: $73,070.04 annually ($65,763.12 if not certified) Posting Closing Date: 07/24/2026 Total Compensation ...

COURT INTERPRETER - 22012015 Pay Plan: State Courts System Position Number: 22012015 Salary: $73,070.04 annually ($65,763.12 if not certified) Posting Closing Date: 07/24/2026 Total Compensation ...

COURT INTERPRETER - 22012226 Pay Plan: State Courts System Position Number: 22012226 Salary: $73,070.04 annually ($65,763.12 if not certified) Posting Closing Date: 07/24/2026 Total Compensation ...

Calling All Vietnamese Court Interpreters! Do you have Vietnamese interpreting experience in a legal setting? Metlang is seeking experienced Vietnamese court interpreters for legal proceedings to ...

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Court Interpreter information

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$23.5K

$78.3K

$100K

How much do court interpreter jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for court interpreter in the United States is $78,267.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,500.00 and $91,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Court Interpreter vs Legal Translator?

AspectCourt InterpreterLegal Translator
CredentialsCertification in court interpreting, language proficiency testsTranslation certifications, legal translation credentials
Work EnvironmentCourts, legal proceedings, live interpretationLegal documents, contracts, written translation
Employer & IndustryCourts, government agencies, legal institutionsLaw firms, legal departments, translation agencies
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in legal settings, certification requirementsLegal document translation, accuracy in legal language

While both Court Interpreters and Legal Translators work within the legal industry, Court Interpreters provide real-time oral translation during legal proceedings, requiring live interpretation skills and certifications. Legal Translators focus on translating legal documents and texts, emphasizing written accuracy and legal terminology expertise. Both roles are essential in legal settings but serve different functions based on the mode of communication and certification requirements.

What are court interpreters?

Court interpreters are professionals who facilitate communication in legal settings by translating spoken or signed language between parties who do not share a common language. Their primary role is to ensure that all individuals involved in a court proceeding, including defendants, witnesses, and attorneys, can fully understand and participate in the legal process. Court interpreters must be fluent in both languages and possess a strong understanding of legal terminology and procedures. They are required to remain impartial and accurately convey everything that is said without additions or omissions. Certification and training requirements vary by jurisdiction to ensure interpreters meet high standards of accuracy and professionalism.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Court Interpreter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Court Interpreter, you need advanced proficiency in at least two languages, deep knowledge of legal terminology, and typically a relevant court interpreter certification. Familiarity with courtroom procedures and the use of interpretation equipment such as headsets and microphones are important technical aspects. Strong listening skills, impartiality, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to remain composed under pressure are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are essential to ensure accurate, unbiased communication and uphold the integrity of judicial proceedings.

What are some common challenges faced by court interpreters during proceedings?

Court interpreters often encounter challenges such as interpreting complex legal terminology, maintaining neutrality, and managing the fast pace of court proceedings. They must accurately convey nuanced testimony without omitting or altering meaning, even under pressure or when multiple speakers talk simultaneously. Additionally, interpreters frequently need to switch between languages quickly and ensure confidentiality, making strong attention to detail and ethical conduct essential in this role.

What Is a Court Interpreter?

A court interpreter assists people who do not speak fluent English in a court of law. A person who is unsure of their ability or unable to communicate in English is appointed a court interpreter to translate on their behalf. A court interpreter is fluent in English and another or several other languages. In this job, you must be familiar with the legal system, legal terminology in both languages, and the courtroom setting. Duties include translations of legal documents and helping to translate written statements made by witnesses, defendants, or plaintiffs. In addition to interpreting in the courtroom proceedings, you join lawyers at pretrial hearings, meetings, and depositions to provide translation services for witnesses or clients. Court interpreters can be employed by the court or by private firms, especially immigration law firms or other firms that handle many cases with non-English fluent clients.

What cities are hiring for Court Interpreter jobs? Cities with the most Court Interpreter job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Court Interpreter jobs? The most popular types of Court Interpreter jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Court Interpreter jobs? The top employers for Court Interpreter jobs are:
What states have the most Court Interpreter jobs? States with the most job openings for Court Interpreter jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Court Interpreter jobs? For Court Interpreter jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Court Interpreter job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $78,267 per year, or $37.6 per hour.
Vietnamese Court Interpreter

Vietnamese Court Interpreter

Metlang

New York, NY โ€ข On-site

$97.34/hr

Contractor

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Calling All Vietnamese Court Interpreters!
Do you have Vietnamese interpreting experience in a legal setting? Metlang is seeking experienced Vietnamese court interpreters for legal proceedings to include, but not limited to, proffers, arraignments, depositions, hearings, trial pep, trials, etc.
Established in 1990 as veteran owned U.S. government contractor, Metlang has become the premier provider of forensic interpretation and translation services to federal agencies that comprise the U.S. Department of Justice. Metlang maintains a comprehensive roster of highly qualified federal court certified interpreters throughout the country in over 100 languages and dialects. We take pride in building long term relationships with our court interpreters while providing competitive pay. Vietnamese Court Interpreter pay rate is $97.34 per hour. This is a 1099 position.
Primary Functions and Responsibilities:
  • Interpret: To translate orally, either consecutively or simultaneously, from source language to target language.
    • In consecutive interpreting, the interpreter speaks after the source-language speaker has finished speaking. When the speaker pauses or finishes speaking, the interpreter then renders a portion of the message or the entire message in the target language.
    • In simultaneous interpreting, the interpreter renders the message in the target-language as quickly as he/she/they can formulate it from the source language, while the source-language speaker continuously speaks.
  • Transcribe: To render the spoken word of a language into the written form of the same language.
  • Translate: To render the spoken or written word of one language into the written form of another language.
  • Analyze: To examine, methodically and in detail, the constitution of information for purposes of explanation and interpretation.

Requirements:
  • 2 years or more consecutive and/or simultaneous court interpreting experience
  • Experience preparing court ready transcriptions/translations
  • Expert level fluency in English and Vietnamese
  • Ability to interpret legal concepts and forensic terminology, as well as regional and cultural variations in slang and colloquialisms accurately, without changes, omissions, or additions
  • Ability to work independently and engage directly with clients in a professional manner
  • Capable of working well under pressure while maintaining the appropriate tone, speed, and projection of the speaker
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, computer software and applications in English and Vietnamese

Physical Demands:
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the Vietnamese Court Interpreter position. They include the ability to talk, hear, see, sit for extended periods of time, use hands and fingers to handle and manipulate keys on a keyboard or telephone pad, stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the Vietnamese Court Interpreter position.
Metlang is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran or disability.
At Metlang LLC/Metropolitan Interpreters and Translators, Inc., we are committed to maintaining an environment of Equal Opportunity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to access the information provided on this website, please contact our Human Resources Department at: 1-800-421-0303 for further assistance.