Translator
Accurately converts writing from one language into another, keeping the original meaning.
Overview
Translators are professionals who can accurately convert writing from one language to another. Their work is important for making legal, scientific and business texts available to different countries and languages. A good translator would retain the concept and meaning of the original document as much as possible.
Where they work
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Courtrooms
- Meeting Rooms
- Conference Centres
Work environment
The work timings are typically 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. Entrepreneurship: you can set up a private translation company/firm as well as freelancing.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like learning/speaking new languages
- You are comfortable communicating with others
- You are a good listener
- You pay attention to details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream.
- 2Complete Bachelor's of Art (B.A.) degree in any language of your choice, followed by Master's degree in the same
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's of Art (B.A.) degree in any language of your choice, followed by Diploma in any foreign language of your choice.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Arts. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Anugrah Narayan College, Patna, Bihar
- Avvaiyar Government College for Women, Karaikal, Puducherry
- Asutosh College, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmal Kanoi College, Dibrugarh, Assam
- Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
- School of Open Learning, New Delhi
- Ewing Christian College, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Elphinstone College, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Arul Anandar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Annai College of Arts and Science, Tamil Nadu
- Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, Punjab
- Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Acropolis Institute of Management Studies and Research, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Associate Translator
- 2Translator
- 3Senior Translator
- 4Section Head (Translation)
Related careers to explore
Creative Writer
Writes plays, short stories, poems and novels — writing driven by imagination, not format.
Copy Editor
Checks and edits the final written product for grammar, word choice and tone.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Languages.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Shivani Dev — A Conference Interpreter and Translator. She has completed a Bachelor's degree in commerce from Lady Shri Ram College for Women after which she has pursued an M.Phil in French, French Language and Literature, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in French Language and Literature from the Centre for French & Francophone Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She is currently involved in working on the Hindi and English translations of Simone de Beauvoir's Le Deuxième Sexe (The Second Sex, 1949).
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 183 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Translator/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies is printed as being in Telangana; it is in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and the state is corrected here. A separate Translator card also appears in the Education and Training category of this volume.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.