Best Interpreter programs in Illinois, ranked by enrollment
Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into.
44 schools in Illinois run programs that feed this job, graduating 593 people a year. The job pays a median of $55,290 in Illinois across about 1,510 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Illinois that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
24 programs in Illinois that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Illinois (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Illinois page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0905In Illinois → | 168 | 28.3% | 30 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 2 | Linguisticsmain feeder CIP 16.0102In Illinois → | 116 | 19.6% | 7 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 3 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translationmain feeder CIP 16.1603In Illinois → | 77 | 13.0% | 6 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 4 | Foreign Languages and Literatures, Generalmain feeder CIP 16.0101In Illinois → | 34 | 5.7% | 5 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 5 | CIP 16.1200In Illinois → | 25 | 4.2% | 5 | — | $22,560 |
| 6 | French Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0901In Illinois → | 24 | 4.0% | 10 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 7 | American Sign Language (ASL)main feeder CIP 16.1601In Illinois → | 24 | 4.0% | 2 | $32,695 | $25,209 |
| 8 | Language Interpretation and Translationmain feeder CIP 16.0103In Illinois → | 21 | 3.5% | 3 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 9 | CIP 16.0999In Illinois → | 19 | 3.2% | 1 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 10 | CIP 16.0400In Illinois → | 18 | 3.0% | 4 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 11 | CIP 16.1199In Illinois → | 14 | 2.4% | 1 | $48,355 | $15,526 |
| 12 | German Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0501In Illinois → | 11 | 1.9% | 6 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 13 | CIP 16.0399In Illinois → | 8 | 1.3% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 14 | CIP 16.0908In Illinois → | 6 | 1.0% | 2 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 15 | Applied Linguisticsmain feeder CIP 16.0105In Illinois → | 5 | 0.8% | 1 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 16 | CIP 16.0700In Illinois → | 5 | 0.8% | 1 | — | — |
| 17 | CIP 16.1299In Illinois → | 5 | 0.8% | 1 | — | $22,560 |
| 18 | CIP 16.0300In Illinois → | 4 | 0.7% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 19 | Japanese Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0302In Illinois → | 3 | 0.5% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 20 | Italian Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0902In Illinois → | 2 | 0.3% | 1 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 21 | Deaf Studiesmain feeder CIP 05.0211In Illinois → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | $31,459 | $23,000 |
| 22 | Chinese Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.0301In Illinois → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 23 | CIP 16.0499In Illinois → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 24 | Latin Language and Literaturemain feeder CIP 16.1203In Illinois → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | — | $22,560 |
Top 25 schools in Illinois
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 13 of the 44 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 9 feeder programs | 90 | Spanish Language and Literature | $38,942 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 78 | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | — | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 41 | Linguistics | — | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 4 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 32 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 25% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 32 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 62% | — | 77% |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 31 | Linguistics | $25,921 | 62% | — | 87% |
| 7 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 36% | — | — |
| 8 | Benedictine University Lisle, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Linguistics | — | 50% | $23,570 | 95% |
| 9 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 22 | Spanish Language and Literature | $49,448 | 65% | — | 88% |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 20 | Spanish Language and Literature | $40,586 | 49% | — | 70% |
| 11 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 19 | Spanish Language and Literature | $39,207 | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 12 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 19 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 73% | $33,454 | 82% |
| 13 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 17 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | $33,775 | 52% | $28,087 | 89% |
| 14 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 14 | Spanish Language and Literature | $37,025 | 85% | $23,461 | 87% |
| 15 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Linguistics | — | 22% | — | 75% |
| 16 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | American Sign Language (ASL) | — | 40% | — | — |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Foreign Languages and Literatures, General | — | 57% | — | 97% |
| 18 | Elgin Community College Elgin, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 41% | — | — |
| 19 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Foreign Languages and Literatures, General | — | 47% | — | 65% |
| 20 | John A Logan College Carterville, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 46% | — | — |
| 21 | Illinois Central College East Peoria, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | — | 49% | — | — |
| 22 | Lewis University Romeoville, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 67% | $17,632 | 71% |
| 23 | North Central College Naperville, IL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 5 | Japanese Language and Literature | $29,594 | 64% | $20,052 | 77% |
| 24 | Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 57% | $12,935 | 84% |
| 25 | Aurora University Aurora, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Spanish Language and Literature | — | 60% | $18,431 | 81% |
All 44 schools in Illinois
Every school in Illinois with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign | Champaign | Public | 90 | 9 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 78 | 8 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 41 | 7 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 32 | 2 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 32 | 4 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 31 | 2 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Public | 31 | 1 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 29 | 2 |
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 22 | 3 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 20 | 2 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 19 | 4 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 19 | 5 |
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 17 | 2 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 14 | 5 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 11 | 2 |
What interpreters and translators earn in Illinois
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $60,170. Illinois pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Illinois
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Interpreters and Translators page.
How to become a Interpreter
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Illinois
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Interpreters and Translators17 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 05.0211Deaf Studies
- 13.1003Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness
- 16.0101Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
- 16.0102Linguistics
- 16.0103Language Interpretation and Translation
- 16.0105Applied Linguistics
- 16.0201African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- 16.0300East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0301Chinese Language and Literature
- 16.0302Japanese Language and Literature
- 16.0303Korean Language and Literature
- 16.0304Tibetan Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0399East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- 16.0400Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
- 16.0401Baltic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics(no graduates reported)
- 16.0402Russian Language and Literature
- 16.0404Albanian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0405Bulgarian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0406Czech Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0407Polish Language and Literature
- 16.0408Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian Languages and Literatures(no graduates reported)
- 16.0409Slovak Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0410Ukrainian Language and Literature(no graduates reported)
- 16.0499Slavic, Baltic, and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
- 16.0500Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing interpreters and translators programs in Illinois.
What degree do you need to become an Interpreter?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Spanish Language and Literature, which awarded 168 degrees in Illinois in 2024-25, 28.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Interpreter?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 24 programs to this occupation. The largest are Romance Languages, Linguistic, American Sign Language, Classics and Classical Languages, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 593 people a year in Illinois.
How much do interpreters and translators earn in Illinois?+
The median is $55,290 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 8.1% below the U.S. median of $60,170. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for interpreters and translators growing?+
BLS projects a +1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 6,900 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Illinois?+
44 institutions in Illinois reported graduates from at least one of the 24 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do interpreters and translators work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Translator, Interpreter, Medical Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 27-3091.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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