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Telephone Interpreter Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

... g., interpreters), monitors reception area to assure patient needs are met. Updates patients ... Telephone Management: Answers phone in a timely and courteous manner. Manages incoming clinic calls ...

Safety Professional

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$29 - $32/hr

Communicates results of analysis and interpretation to appropriate work group for awareness and any ... You represent and warrant that the email address(es) and/or telephone number(s) you provided to us ...

New

Through vigilant observation, accurate rhythm interpretation, and timely notification of clinical ... Answers telephone and communicates clearly when receiving information from units or providers. Uses ...

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Telephone Interpreter information

See Iowa salary details

$12

$23

$39

How much do telephone interpreter jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for telephone interpreter in Iowa is $23.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.92 and $25.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a telephone interpreter?

A telephone interpreter is a professional who facilitates communication between people who speak different languages by interpreting conversations over the phone. They help individuals, businesses, and organizations overcome language barriers in real-time, ensuring clear and accurate exchanges. Telephone interpreters are commonly used in healthcare, legal, customer service, and emergency settings. Their role is crucial for providing access to services and information for non-English speakers.

What does a telephone interpreter do?

A telephone interpreter provides language translation services over the phone. In this role, your responsibilities include ensuring effective communication between two people who speak a different language, relaying ideas and concepts that differ between languages, and interpreting written communications for the involved parties. You may also translate languages at meetings or conferences and explain industry-specific terminology, such as legal or medical terms. Depending on your skills and background, you may choose to specialize in a specific industry, such as business or medicine, or you may provide general telephone interpreter services.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a telephone interpreter?

To thrive as a Telephone Interpreter, you need native-level proficiency in at least two languages, a strong grasp of both cultures, and typically a high school diploma or higher. Familiarity with telecommunication systems, interpreter platforms, and sometimes professional certification (like CCHI or ATA) is highly valued. Active listening, quick thinking, and cultural sensitivity are critical soft skills for ensuring accurate and respectful communication. These abilities are vital for bridging language gaps, maintaining confidentiality, and delivering effective interpretation in real-time, high-pressure situations.

How do telephone interpreters typically handle fast-paced conversations or overlapping speakers during calls?

Telephone interpreters often encounter fast-paced conversations or situations where multiple speakers talk at once. To manage these challenges, interpreters are trained to politely intervene and request clarification or repetition when necessary, ensuring the accuracy of their interpretation. They must maintain composure, listen actively, and prioritize clear communication between all parties. Good telephone interpreters also develop strategies for taking concise notes and quickly switching between languages, which helps them manage the flow of conversation and maintain professionalism.

What is the difference between Telephone Interpreter vs In-Person Interpreter?

AspectTelephone InterpreterIn-Person Interpreter
CredentialsOften requires certification such as NAD or CCHIRequires similar certifications, plus sometimes additional in-person language proficiency assessments
Work EnvironmentRemote, via phone or video callsOn-site, in healthcare, legal, or business settings
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in healthcare, legal, government, and business sectors for remote communicationUsed in hospitals, courts, conferences, and face-to-face meetings

Both Telephone Interpreters and In-Person Interpreters require similar certifications and serve overlapping industries. The main difference lies in the work environment: Telephone Interpreters work remotely via phone or video, while In-Person Interpreters operate on-site. Your choice depends on your preferred work setting and industry needs.

What are popular job titles related to Telephone Interpreter jobs in Iowa?

For Telephone Interpreter jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Telephone Interpreter jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Telephone Interpreter jobs in Iowa are:

Infographic showing various Telephone Interpreter job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,082 per year, or $23.1 per hour.

$19.72 - $26.62/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental

Re-posted 3 days ago


University Of Rochester rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 188 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

127th of 627 rated colleges and universities


Job description

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

226 Main St E, Suite 106, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14604

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

920760 EIOH Downtown

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URCC 204 H

Compensation Range:

$19.72 - $26.62

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

Performs functions associated with patient information processing for dental visits. Completes the tasks of reception, registration, charge reconciliation, appointment scheduling, telephone encounter management, processing of referrals and pre-determination of benefits, and medical and dental insurance verification. Assures patient satisfaction with information processing and reception service. Requires accuracy in order to generate a billable service for the provider. Responsible for functions being completed in an accurate, efficient, and customer friendly manner. May be a resource to new staff. Responsible for monitoring own performance on assigned tasks. Self-directed: must make complex decisions. May train new or less experienced support staff.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Reception: Greets patients to initiate positive experience, requests patient identification, assures use of two identifiers to verify the correct patient, identifies healthcare provider to be seen, obtains signatures as needed (e.g., for insurance forms), identifies and assesses patients' special needs (e.g., interpreters), monitors reception area to assure patient needs are met. Updates patients regarding waiting time for the provider every 15 minutes. Protects Personal Health Information (PHI) for patients as indicated by HIPAA regulations. Assures cleanliness and order in the waiting room/lobby.
  • Customer interaction: Assesses the urgency of a situation and determines the appropriate routing for the patient, serves as a focal point for handling complaints, utilizes service recovery concepts, serves as front-line problem solver.
  • Registration: Collects patient demographic and financial information in an efficient, customer-oriented manner, asks specific questions of patient to verify information accuracy in order to establish a billable account. Enters information into the electronic medical record and patient access and revenue cycle system. Requests patient e-mail address for confirmation purposes. Assures completion of all appropriate forms by patients, such as, Medicare Secondary Payer assurance, provision of HIPAA information for new patients, requesting patient identification to verify identity.
  • Appointment Scheduling: Schedules new and return visits using the electronic medical record, monitors schedules and reports problems to Supervisor, pre-registers patients for next visit, coordinates appointments for ancillary testing or referrals to other clinic sites, follows-up missed appointments and cancellations, completes any correspondence or forms involved with appointment scheduling, schedules interpreters, schedules outside services to meet patient's needs (e.g., transportation), assures patient satisfaction with visit prior to discharge from the area. Prints After Visit Summary at check-out when appropriate, uses 2 patient identifiers to assure provision of the summary to the correct patient. Collect patient payments, prepare end of day deposits and reconcile any discrepancies.
  • Telephone Management: Answers phone in a timely and courteous manner. Manages incoming clinic calls, sorts calls to various providers. Coordinates outgoing calls related to major functions above. Provides information to patients in order to minimize the need to distribute the telephone call, forwards calls, pages providers, and takes messages.
  • Insurance Management: Initiates insurance preauthorization, verification, and/or service authorization in advance of treatment through review of dental insurance benefits and requirements. Maintains working knowledge of various insurance policies and regulations.
  • Referrals: Processes all internal and external referrals, prioritizing referrals based on department policies. Employs tracking mechanism to ensure referral approvals and appointments are obtained in a timely manner


QUALIFICATIONS:

  • High School diploma required.
  • 1 year of related work experience in an administrative office or customer service field required or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
  • Medical terminology experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to word process documents and enter data into a database preferred.
  • Demonstrated skills related to achievement of customer satisfaction preferred.
  • Demonstrates the ICARE values to patient, families and staff preferred.
  • Ability to act as a resource to less experienced staff preferred.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University's Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create - and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status,or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.


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