Interpreter's salary

no perhaps change it to We should change this thread title to Interpreter Salary and Wig Exchange Code, easier than hair extensions, and sprays. Lets pretend you all got cancer and so you can raid that discount wig shop.....
 
Grummer said:
no perhaps change it to We should change this thread title to Interpreter Salary and Wig Exchange Code, easier than hair extensions, and sprays. Lets pretend you all got cancer and so you can raid that discount wig shop.....
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Wow, that cancer bit was not cool. :roll:
 
ops, take that back, sorry to be insensitive , lets say you could raid the custome-hire shop
 
terpguy72 said:
I can't speak for all terps, but as far as I'm concerned, that's WAY better than a monetary tip and really means alot to me. Yes, it's our job, and yes, we are getting paid but a simple, "thank you, good job" really does the heart good. You really make an interpreter's day when you say that.
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Aww that's so touching! :)
 
My observation is that generally interpreters do NOT get paid enough. And it makes me angry. Many of them have college degrees - yet struggle financially because the job is not always "stable." And the office politics with the interpreting agencies are evident - which is flat out unfair. Yet, if an interpreter wants to get the assignments, then s/he better play the political field well. :(

Some of my best and closest friends are interpreters. They work so hard to maintain the professionalism and intergity of interpreting field. I get irritated when people "volunteer" their interpreting services because it can undermine what many folks have worked hard to make intepreting a profession. Also, when a person volunteers to interpret - it can be like taking food (money) out of someone's mouth.

I'm so thankful I have interpreters to ease my way in life. Without an interpreter, I could never have known when my father said, "I love you." when he was in the hospital. Or known when the doctor called out the wonderful words, "It's a girl!" When the heartbreaking news were given - "She will not live tonight." Or when the pastor announced the baptism of my cousin. Without an interpreter, those words would fall on deaf ears...literally.

Yes, there are bad terps out there who don't give a crap...who are pathological and who take advantages of deaf people. They suck, okay?

But then there are intepreters like my friends who really and truly love the work.
 
deafbajagal said:
My observation is that generally interpreters do NOT get paid enough. And it makes me angry. Many of them have college degrees - yet struggle financially because the job is not always "stable." And the office politics with the interpreting agencies are evident - which is flat out unfair. Yet, if an interpreter wants to get the assignments, then s/he better play the political field well. :(

Some of my best and closest friends are interpreters. They work so hard to maintain the professionalism and intergity of interpreting field. I get irritated when people "volunteer" their interpreting services because it can undermine what many folks have worked hard to make intepreting a profession. Also, when a person volunteers to interpret - it can be like taking food (money) out of someone's mouth.

I'm so thankful I have interpreters to ease my way in life. Without an interpreter, I could never have known when my father said, "I love you." when he was in the hospital. Or known when the doctor called out the wonderful words, "It's a girl!" When the heartbreaking news were given - "She will not live tonight." Or when the pastor announced the baptism of my cousin. Without an interpreter, those words would fall on deaf ears...literally.

Yes, there are bad terps out there who don't give a crap...who are pathological and who take advantages of deaf people. They suck, okay?

But then there are intepreters like my friends who really and truly love the work.
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:gpost:
 
deafbajagal said:
My observation is that generally interpreters do NOT get paid enough. And it makes me angry. Many of them have college degrees - yet struggle financially because the job is not always "stable." And the office politics with the interpreting agencies are evident - which is flat out unfair. Yet, if an interpreter wants to get the assignments, then s/he better play the political field well. :(

Some of my best and closest friends are interpreters. They work so hard to maintain the professionalism and intergity of interpreting field. I get irritated when people "volunteer" their interpreting services because it can undermine what many folks have worked hard to make intepreting a profession. Also, when a person volunteers to interpret - it can be like taking food (money) out of someone's mouth.

I'm so thankful I have interpreters to ease my way in life. Without an interpreter, I could never have known when my father said, "I love you." when he was in the hospital. Or known when the doctor called out the wonderful words, "It's a girl!" When the heartbreaking news were given - "She will not live tonight." Or when the pastor announced the baptism of my cousin. Without an interpreter, those words would fall on deaf ears...literally.

Yes, there are bad terps out there who don't give a crap...who are pathological and who take advantages of deaf people. They suck, okay?

But then there are intepreters like my friends who really and truly love the work.
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I agree..

Also hate it when someone who knows a handful of signs volunteers to interpret. It is offensive and egostical.
 
deafbajagal said:
My observation is that generally interpreters do NOT get paid enough. And it makes me angry. Many of them have college degrees - yet struggle financially because the job is not always "stable." And the office politics with the interpreting agencies are evident - which is flat out unfair. Yet, if an interpreter wants to get the assignments, then s/he better play the political field well. :(

Some of my best and closest friends are interpreters. They work so hard to maintain the professionalism and intergity of interpreting field. I get irritated when people "volunteer" their interpreting services because it can undermine what many folks have worked hard to make intepreting a profession. Also, when a person volunteers to interpret - it can be like taking food (money) out of someone's mouth.

I'm so thankful I have interpreters to ease my way in life. Without an interpreter, I could never have known when my father said, "I love you." when he was in the hospital. Or known when the doctor called out the wonderful words, "It's a girl!" When the heartbreaking news were given - "She will not live tonight." Or when the pastor announced the baptism of my cousin. Without an interpreter, those words would fall on deaf ears...literally.

Yes, there are bad terps out there who don't give a crap...who are pathological and who take advantages of deaf people. They suck, okay?

But then there are intepreters like my friends who really and truly love the work.
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:gpost:
 
Dixie said:
Well hot diggity damn, thats almost twice what I am making now and I live in Arkansas! Maybe I should take the ASL course from UALR. Believe me for around here that is good money. The only downside is, there is not a large deaf population so work would be limited unless you live in Little Rock and the parents insist the child go to mainstream school with a terp, instead of an all deaf education at AR School for the Deaf. (Not that I know anyone, but I am sure it's happened).
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Im in MO and I dont earn what DC terps do. I have a good friend who works there but remember DC cost of living is much higher then here in MO or where you are in Arkansas. All that extra money he earns is sallowed up by the cost of housing, food ect.
 
terpguy72 said:
I can't speak for all terps, but as far as I'm concerned, that's WAY better than a monetary tip and really means alot to me. Yes, it's our job, and yes, we are getting paid but a simple, "thank you, good job" really does the heart good. You really make an interpreter's day when you say that.
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I agree!! It is so nice when the person I terp for says thank you, or recomends me to others. I get most of my work that way. Im a free lancer but will sub contact with a couple of the agencies around here. I often get calls from the agencies because someone has requested me. I try very hard to do the jobs where I have been requested.
 
Etoile said:
This question doesn't really have an answer. The reason is that salary depends on where you are located in the country, what type of job it is (medical or school, etc), what level of education and certification you have, whether you are working freelance or for an agency, whether it is platform interpreting or VRS interpreting or 1-on-1 interpreting, etc. There are just too many variables to say exactly what the salary would be.

For example, an interpreter in a court in Washington DC who has full certification (including legal specialist certification) might make $100+ per hour. An elementary school interpreter in Arkansas with no certification might make $15 per hour. And there are all kinds of ranges in between.

It's impossible to provide an accurate answer because it varies so much. :)
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that is true,

I work in KS and MO starting out 13 yrs ago I earned 16.00 hr, 2 hr min +miles.

as my certification increased my wage increased, 25-35 hr 2 hr min +miles

for theater work it 150-200 per job.

in MO and KS you have to be certified to interpret even to volunteer
depending on your level of cert is what type of work you can do.

In MO you also have to have license to work

I do volunteer a min of 3 jobs per year for non-profit groups. Its my way to give back to the community that I love and who supports me.
 
faeryterp said:
...in MO and KS you have to be certified to interpret even to volunteer depending on your level of cert is what type of work you can do....
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Even for church interpreting?
 
...like Private doctors, dont go radically dress up to shock people, because like they have to dress as a Professional.....lawyers are the same, you dont see queer lawyer brandishing pink-flo ties or flared pants......do you? or dykes wearing Obviously dykish earrings? or rainbow coloured clothing item(s) like big socks on dykes....

Professional and personal choice on how to look professional ... as long as the clothing is approprate ie: contrasting skin color, solid color wether its a trendy top or flared pants dosnt matter. now it its a formal event and they show up in short no matter what the color that is not right. race, religion, preference has nothing to do with it. Many in my area have multi colored hair and peircing as long as the piercing are not a distraction( ie:dangling ear rings) it is a person choice. Your choice is wether you want to hire them again and that should depend on skill and professionalism

I wear my rainbow shoes( when they match) and my necklace that shows my faith ( which is not christian) but i am professionally dressed, professionally behaved and am requested often
 
QUOTE=Liebling:)));1041747]Well, Interpreters CAN turn you down for your disrespectful behavior if she/he feel being abuse by your manner behavior.

OR

Interpreters CAN refuse to interpret for you next time after bad experience with you in the past.

You might have no interpreters if you carry on like this.


To me, we (deaf people) should be glad to have interpreters around when we need them for important meetings... Can you image what and how you react when there're no interpreters exist? I do not need to complaint anything but say to myself...Thank God, I'm really glad to have interpreters!!! That's it.

I noticed from several threads for past years that ADers complaint/judge about Interpreters' taste (example: tongue or nose pierce, color nailpolish, clothes, etc.) It's really sad that they (deaf people) do what they want for interpreters and know no respect for Interpreters what they are. I have interpreters who wear different taste, pierce on their tonuges, nose, etc. Do I complaint? No! but accept what they are... as the same as they accept what I am. Its about respect on both way.[/QUOTE]

:gpost::gpost: there are deaf in the community that I will not work for. respect goes both ways!:D
 
Hi I just joined this site and this is an Interesting topic. I work in PA and as for how much for the agency I work for Cert makes $40/45 per hr w/ 2 hr minium and non-Cert depends on if they past the written or not and what level they are.
I also work in the office of the agency and I am in charge of scheduling terps for the Colleges that request terps through us. We do not require any signatures from students or proffesors for the terps to get paid or even proof that they were there or not.
Also for the Deaf Client/student could,at least here, fire the terp or at least request another one for any reason. All the student would have to do is either e-mail us or go to the school and let them know and we would take the terp off and find a new one, even if it is a non-educational setting, all the Deaf individual would have to do is let us know and we would not send that terp again for that person or they can let us know if they liked that terp and would like to only have or prefer that terp and we would send that person as much as possible.
I am finding these response very interesting in seeing everyones thought proccess and how different areas handle different settings.
 
Liebling:-))) said:
Very true.
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That may be true, but that's not a rule or a law. As I previously stated there is no code of conduct for deaf clients. Furthermore, just simply being rude or inconsiderate is not a violation of any us law. It may be bad behavior, yes, but its not a violation of our laws.

Frankly, any interpreter that can't deal with a client who is rude, in a professional manner, should not be interpreting. Interpreters by the code of conduct regardless of whether the client is rude or not still have to act and behave in a manner that is considered professional.
 
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