How to become a Linguist, Translator or Interpreter
Official title: Linguists, Translators and Interpreters
Studies languages and translates written or spoken language.
Main tasks
- Study the relationships between ancient and modern languages and the origin and evolution of writing, grammar and language, and publish findings
- Compile language classification systems, grammars, dictionaries and similar tools to improve the quality of translation
- Translate written material and make sure the original meaning is conveyed
- Interpret at seminars, conferences and similar events and make sure the original meaning is conveyed
Ways in
- University department: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 96 universities in Taiwan
- Technical college: Technician certificate: Sign language interpreting. National technician skill test (技術士技能檢定) run by the Workforce Development Agency, trade 177 手語翻譯. Tested at grade B (乙級), grade C (丙級). Peernovo links this trade to the occupation.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Average pay: NT$513,000 a year
- Demand for Legal, social and cultural jobs is projected at about 190,000 in 2024 and about 216,000 in 2030. (+13.7%)
- Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Linguist, Translator or Interpreter?
Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees; Technician certificate: Sign language interpreting.
How much does a Linguist, Translator or Interpreter earn in Taiwan?
Average pay is NT$513,000 a year (Ministry of Labor, Department of Statistics).
Is a Linguist, Translator or Interpreter a growing career in Taiwan?
Demand for this job family is projected to change 13.7% from 2024 to 2030 (National Development Council).
Will AI change the work of a Linguist, Translator or Interpreter?
Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Labor, Department of Statistics: Occupational Wage Survey (職類別薪資調查) (2025 survey (July 2025 monthly, 2024 annual), released 2026-05-29), Open Government Data License, version 1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- National Development Council: Final manpower demand projections by occupation (職業別最終人力需求推估) (2025 to 2030 (base 2024), 13 job families), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026