Raising the Bar Means Valuing the Profession
Lately, many interpreters across the country have been discussing an important topic: sustainability in our profession.
As credential requirements, liability expectations, continuing education, ethical responsibilities, and specialization continue to increase for Licensed, Qualified, and Credentialed interpreters, many of us are also asking an important question:
Are professional standards increasing while compensation expectations are moving in the opposite direction?
Recently, after providing what was clearly an agency partnership rate for legal interpreting services, I was asked to share the “lowest hourly rate” I would be willing to accept.
I paused for a moment.
Because conversations throughout our industry lately have centered around raising standards, strengthening professional boundaries, and building sustainable careers for interpreters working in high-stakes environments such as courts, depositions, healthcare, immigration, and rare-language assignments.
To be clear, agencies absolutely have business models, operational costs, and competitive pressures of their own — and I respect that. Many agencies work hard behind the scenes coordinating difficult logistics and serving clients nationwide.
At the same time, interpreters also carry significant professional responsibility:
- specialized expertise
- continuing education
- ethical obligations
- emotional and cognitive fatigue
- schedule instability
- preparation time
- credentialing requirements and years of experience developing
- courtroom, medical, or subject-matter competency
Especially in legal settings and low-density languages, interpreting is far more than simply “showing up and speaking two languages.”
This is exactly why conversations around:
- minimums
- reservation structures
- cancellations
- overtime
- travel
- and sustainable professional standards
matter so much right now.
We can remain collaborative, positive, and solutions-oriented while still valuing our work appropriately.
After all, expecting front-row expertise while negotiating for back-row pricing is probably not sustainable for anyone long-term.
I am encouraged seeing more interpreters openly discussing healthy boundaries, professional advocacy, and sustainable business practices within our field. These conversations matter — not only for interpreters, but also for the quality and consistency of language access provided to the communities we serve.
— Mayuree “Mary” Matlock
Founder & Principal Interpreter
Crosspoint Language Group, LLC
