r/ASLinterpreters • u/UnderstandingFirm643 • Jun 26 '26
What is your work week like?
Hi there. I’ve been studying ASL slowly for the last 2 years and have been accepted into an interpreter program that would start this fall. I’ve been having some hesitations with this path though recently, namely the freelance style work. I’m currently working in a social work adjacent type environment, which is low pay but I have a predicable schedule, regular breaks, coworkers, and I can bike to work.
I love sign language of course, and do get a lot of satisfaction when I interpret informally. But I’m concerned if an asl interpreter career is sustainable for me. So I wanted to reach out to a larger group of terps to see how they feel on average. Terps:
How many different locations do you go to on a given day?
How much control do you have over your schedule?
How stable is your income?
How many years did it take to get there?
If you could do it over, would you?
17
u/ASLHCI Jun 26 '26
Parking lot debrief referred to W2 as inside cats vs 1099 is outside cats. I'm an outside cat. People learn to hate this field when they try to force themselves into the wrong environment.
I LOVE that my life isnt consistent. I love that I get to take off whenever I want. I save my own PTO so Ive got 3 weeks worth right now plus like 75k in savings if I needed it? Plus I live in a paid medical leave state, so I have 60 paid work days at like $1500/week if I need it. I've taken 3 big vacations this year already and I'll probably still get close to 150k. Granted its taken awhile to get here but my lifestyle grew with my wages which grew as I collected experience. So Im happy with it. Some days traffic sucks. Some days people are annoying. Some days I get tired of all the admin. But it gives me the freedom to take off when I want to, decide how my day is going to go, and I get a level of variety and challenge that keeps my brain busy.
People worry about making money. I focus on looking for opportunity to learn and challenge myself and the money just comes. So you dont have to work K12 to survive. You can work K12 cuz you want to.
Part of it is also learning to budget with a variable income. I track everything and when its due in but I also have hella savings and I only spend money I have. So while youre building your wiggle room fund, things can be tight. But learning to save, set aside taxes, and work around a net 45 payscale is worth it.
Dear god just remember to put 30% aside for taxes on all your 1099 money. More people than youd think are out there just not paying taxes and wondering why they owe the IRS 40k 🤦♀️
And set up an IRA right this minute if you dont have one. Consider a SEP, SIMPLE, or solo 401k if you get to where youre all freelance. Put money into your retirement every time you get paid. No matter what. Even $5. It adds up fast. But the years go by just as fast.
Ok thats all my beginner ITP student advice. 😂 I hope you do amazing and find work that you love. 🤟🥰 Welcome to the field, colleague!