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Translator & Interpreter

Creative

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

GeneralEducation

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Follow ethical codes that protect the confidentiality of information.
  2. 2Translate messages simultaneously or consecutively into specified languages, orally or by using hand signs, maintaining message content, context, and style as much as possible.
  3. 3Listen to speakers' statements to determine meanings and to prepare translations, using electronic listening systems as necessary.
  4. 4Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.
  5. 5Adapt translations to students' cognitive and grade levels, collaborating with educational team members as necessary.
  6. 6Refer to reference materials, such as dictionaries, lexicons, encyclopedias, and computerized terminology banks, as needed to ensure translation accuracy.
  7. 7Check translations of technical terms and terminology to ensure that they are accurate and remain consistent throughout translation revisions.
  8. 8Identify and resolve conflicts related to the meanings of words, concepts, practices, or behaviors.
  9. 9Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.
  10. 10Compile information on content and context of information to be translated and on intended audience.
  11. 11Adapt software and accompanying technical documents to another language and culture.
  12. 12Educate students, parents, staff, and teachers about the roles and functions of educational interpreters.
  13. 13Proofread, edit, and revise translated materials.
  14. 14Train and supervise other translators or interpreters.
  15. 15Read written materials, such as legal documents, scientific works, or news reports, and rewrite material into specified languages.
  16. 16Travel with or guide tourists who speak another language.
  17. 17Discuss translation requirements with clients and determine any fees to be charged for services provided.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Linguist
  • Translator
  • Interpreter
  • Farsi Linguist
  • ASL Interpreter
  • Deaf Interpreter
  • Legal Translator
  • Russian Linguist
  • Arabic Translator
  • Court Interpreter

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Arabic LanguageDraws directly on Foreign Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Chinese LanguageDraws directly on Foreign Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Tamil LanguageDraws directly on Foreign Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administrative — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • English Language93%

    English

  • Foreign Language83%

    Arabic LanguageChinese LanguageTamil Language

  • Customer and Personal Service78%
  • Education and Training68%
  • Administrative64%

    Business

  • Public Safety and Security61%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentRarely
  • Time spent sittingAlmost all the time
  • Time spent standingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

80%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

1.31%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Broadcast Journalist / Media Producer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

IPG (Teacher Training)

Become a school teacher: fully funded, with an allowance and a guaranteed posting. Apply separately through KPM after SPM.

~5 years

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Interpreters and Translators

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue