The demand for online sign language interpreter services has grown significantly over the last few years. With so many people working remotely, more professionals demand online sign language interpreter services than ever before. They are needed for understanding various types of online video discussions, such as depositions, doctor’s appointments, government-related meetings, school meetings, etc.
If you are bilingual in English and American Sign Language, you will find plenty of remote job opportunities available. The best part is that you can take advantage of these opportunities from any location in the country. Since you don’t have to show up in-person to provide the sign language interpreter service, you can do it anywhere with your smartphone or laptop and internet connection.
Below are the four facts you need to know before entering the current job market that Languagers provides as an online sign language interpreter.
1) Education Requirements
The minimum education requirement is to have an ASL certification. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf are two accredited organisations authorised to issue ASL certifications. You can find work as a freelancer ASL interpreter who takes on contract gigs.
However, suppose you want a long-term online ASL interpreter career as an employee for a company or agency. In that case, you need to also have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in sign language or some related field. Several law firms and medical facilities are looking to hire long-term ASL interpreters. You could also pursue those opportunities.
2) Income Potential
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, ASL interpreters earn a median annual income of $47,190. It means 50% of ASL interpreters made more and another 50% made less. The lowest yearly income reported was less than $25,000, while the highest-paid ASL interpreters made over $82,000 per year.
It is a matter of experience and skill. You’ll have to start by working your way up from the bottom. As you gain more experience and prove yourself to be a skilled ASL interpreter, you can start demanding more money.
3) Choose an Industry
ASL interpreters can make more money if they choose to specialise in a particular industry. Some of the hottest and most notable industries are law and medicine. If you can learn signing for complicated legal or medical terminology, you can easily find more job opportunities and demand more money from your employers.
The highest-paid online ASL interpreters work in government offices, hospitals, courtrooms, and schools. All of these industries use complicated terminology that average ASL interpreters do not know how to translate. But if you can learn how to translate it, your resume will stand out from your competition.
4) Setup Your Computer Equipment
Online sign language interpretation jobs require you to have a decent computer, webcam and internet connection. You don’t necessarily need a microphone because ASL work does not require you to talk. Since it is a method of communicating words to deaf people with your hands, they won’t hear you anyway. All they need to do is look at your hands to understand the interpretation.
After you have the hardware and internet established, the next step is to install video conferencing software onto your computer. Clients will have their preferences for which video conferencing software to use, such as Zoom, Webex, or Skype. You mine as well install all these programs because it is up to the client as to which one is used.
Conclusion
The great thing about online ASL interpretation work is that you can find employers in any city and state in the country. You are not restricted to finding local clients for in-person interpretations. The whole country is filled with employers and clients waiting to hire online ASL interpreters with your skills.