What is the Difference Between a Machine Translation Post-Editor and a Translator?

In today's globalized world, language services are more important than ever. As technology advances, the landscape of translation work is evolving rapidly, creating distinct roles that might seem similar at first glance but serve different functions in the content localization ecosystem.

Two roles that often cause confusion are Machine Translation Post-Editors (MTPEs) and traditional Translators. Understanding the differences between these positions is crucial whether you're:

• A company looking to hire the right language professional for your needs
• A language professional considering your career path
• A project manager trying to build the most effective localization team

In this post, we'll explore the key distinctions between these roles, including their responsibilities, required skills, career paths, and how they fit into the modern language services industry. We'll also provide guidance on which role might be right for your organization or career aspirations.

Role Overviews

Machine Translation Post-Editor Overview

Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) emerged as a distinct profession in the early 2000s with the rise of statistical machine translation, but it gained significant prominence in the 2010s with the development of neural machine translation systems like Google Translate and DeepL.

A Machine Translation Post-Editor reviews, edits, and refines text that has been automatically translated by AI or machine translation (MT) systems. Their primary goal is to ensure the machine-translated content meets quality standards while maintaining the efficiency advantages of automated translation.

MTPEs typically work within defined workflows where content first passes through an MT engine and then requires human refinement to correct errors, improve fluency, and ensure cultural appropriateness. They serve as the critical human element in an increasingly automated translation process.

Translator Overview

The profession of translation dates back thousands of years, with evidence of translators facilitating communication between different cultures as early as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The modern professional translator role became more formalized in the 20th century with the growth of international organizations and global commerce.

A Translator converts written text from one language (the source) to another language (the target), preserving meaning, context, style, and cultural nuances. Traditional translators typically work with the source text directly, creating target language content from scratch rather than editing machine-generated translations.

Translators are responsible for the complete translation process, from analyzing the source text to researching terminology and producing a final translation that reads naturally to native speakers of the target language.

Key Responsibilities & Focus Areas

The fundamental difference between these roles lies in their starting point and approach to the translation process:

Machine Translation Post-Editor responsibilities:

• Reviewing machine-translated content for accuracy and completeness
• Correcting grammatical errors, terminology issues, and mistranslations
• Improving text fluency while maintaining efficiency
• Following specific post-editing guidelines (light vs. full post-editing)
• Providing feedback to improve MT systems
• Working with translation management systems and MT tools
• Meeting productivity metrics (words per hour)
• Balancing quality and speed requirements

Translator responsibilities:

• Analyzing source text for meaning, context, and cultural references
• Researching subject matter and terminology
• Creating translations from scratch in the target language
• Ensuring stylistic appropriateness and cultural adaptation
• Maintaining consistency in terminology and style
• Conducting self-review and quality assurance
• Collaborating with editors, subject matter experts, and clients
• Developing specialized knowledge in particular domains

The MTPE role is more focused on efficiency and correction, while the translator role emphasizes creation and adaptation. MTPEs typically process higher volumes of content with predefined quality expectations, whereas translators often work on content requiring higher creativity, cultural sensitivity, or specialized knowledge.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Hard Skills

Machine Translation Post-Editor:

• Proficiency in both source and target languages
• Understanding of MT systems and their common error patterns
• Familiarity with post-editing tools and translation management systems
• Knowledge of post-editing guidelines and quality metrics
• Fast typing and editing skills
• Basic understanding of linguistics and translation theory
• Familiarity with CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools
• Technical aptitude for working with various file formats and platforms

Translator:

• Native or near-native proficiency in the target language
• Excellent writing skills in the target language
• Deep cultural knowledge of both source and target cultures
• Research skills for terminology and subject matter
• Specialization in specific domains (legal, medical, technical, literary, etc.)
• Proficiency with CAT tools and terminology management
• Knowledge of translation theory and techniques
• Understanding of localization processes

While both roles require strong language skills, translators typically need deeper cultural and subject matter expertise, while MTPEs need stronger technical skills related to MT systems and efficiency-focused workflows.

Soft Skills

Machine Translation Post-Editor:

• Attention to detail
• Efficiency and time management
• Adaptability to changing technology
• Critical thinking for quick error identification
• Comfort with repetitive tasks
• Ability to follow specific guidelines
• Technological adaptability
• Patience with machine-generated content

Translator:

• Creativity and writing flair
• Cultural sensitivity
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Research aptitude
• Client communication skills
• Project management abilities
• Continuous learning mindset
• Attention to detail

Both roles require excellent language skills and attention to detail, but translators typically need more creativity and cultural adaptation skills, while MTPEs need stronger technical aptitude and efficiency-focused mindsets.

Organizational Structure & Reporting

Machine Translation Post-Editor:

• Often works within language service providers (LSPs) or localization departments
• May report to localization project managers or MT operations managers
• Frequently works as part of a larger localization workflow
• May be employed full-time or as a freelancer/contractor
• Performance often measured by productivity metrics and quality scores
• May collaborate with MT engineers to improve systems

Translator:

• Can work independently as a freelancer or within translation agencies/departments
• May report to project managers, senior translators, or directly to clients
• Often has more client-facing responsibilities than MTPEs
• Can specialize in specific industries or content types
• Performance typically measured by quality, client satisfaction, and deadlines
• May collaborate with editors, proofreaders, and subject matter experts

In larger organizations, both roles might exist within the same localization department but serve different functions in the content pipeline. MTPEs are more likely to be integrated into technology-driven workflows with standardized processes, while translators might have more autonomy in their approach to projects.

Overlap & Common Misconceptions

There are several areas where these roles overlap and common misconceptions about their differences:

Areas of overlap:

• Both require strong language skills in source and target languages
• Both contribute to making content accessible across language barriers
• Both need to understand cultural nuances and context
• Both may use CAT tools and translation management systems
• Both require attention to detail and quality consciousness

Common misconceptions:

• Misconception: MTPEs are just faster, less skilled translators.Reality: Post-editing requires specific skills for identifying and fixing MT errors efficiently.
• Misconception: Traditional translation is always higher quality than MTPE.Reality: For certain content types and language pairs, MTPE can achieve comparable quality to human translation, especially with high-quality MT systems and skilled post-editors.
• Misconception: MTPEs will eventually replace translators completely.Reality: Both roles serve different purposes in the language industry ecosystem. Creative, sensitive, or highly specialized content still benefits from traditional translation approaches.
• Misconception: Post-editing is always faster than translating from scratch.Reality: For some language pairs or complex content, post-editing poor MT output can take longer than traditional translation.

The distinction between these roles continues to evolve as MT technology improves and the language industry adapts to changing client needs and technological capabilities.

Career Path & Salary Expectations

Career Trajectories

Machine Translation Post-Editor:

• Entry point: Often begins with a background in translation, linguistics, or language studies
• Career progression: May advance to senior post-editor, post-editing team lead, or MT quality manager
• Potential pivots: Can move into MT system development, localization project management, or specialized translation
• Growing field: As MT adoption increases, demand for skilled post-editors is rising
• Technology integration: Career increasingly involves working with AI and automation tools

Translator:

• Entry point: Typically starts with language degrees, translation certifications, or domain expertise plus language skills
• Career progression: Can advance to senior translator, specialized translator, or translation team lead
• Potential pivots: May move into editing, localization management, or content creation
• Specialization: Often develops expertise in specific industries (legal, medical, technical, marketing)
• Entrepreneurial path: Many translators establish independent practices or boutique agencies

Salary Expectations

Compensation varies significantly based on location, language pair, specialization, and employment arrangement (freelance vs. in-house):

Machine Translation Post-Editor:

• Generally paid by volume (per word) or hourly rates
• Rates typically lower than traditional translation but with higher expected productivity
• In-house positions may range from $40,000-$70,000 annually in the US
• Freelance rates often range from $0.02-$0.06 per word depending on language pair and complexity
• Performance bonuses may be tied to productivity metrics

Translator:

• Can be paid by word, hour, or project
• Specialized translators (legal, medical, technical) typically command higher rates
• In-house positions may range from $45,000-$80,000+ annually in the US
• Freelance rates often range from $0.08-$0.30+ per word depending on specialization and language pair
• Literary translators may receive royalties in addition to flat fees

Future Outlook

The language services industry continues to evolve with technology:

• MT technology will continue to improve, potentially shifting the balance between these roles
• Demand for post-editors is likely to grow as more content types become suitable for MT
• Translators will likely focus increasingly on high-value, creative, or sensitive content
• Hybrid roles combining aspects of both traditional translation and post-editing may emerge
• Specialization and domain expertise will remain valuable for both roles

Choosing the Right Role (or Understanding Which You Need)

For Individuals Considering These Careers

If you're considering a career in language services, here are some factors to consider:

Consider a career as a Machine Translation Post-Editor if you:

• Enjoy working with technology and have an interest in AI/MT
• Prefer faster-paced work with higher volume
• Have strong editing and error-spotting skills
• Are comfortable with more structured workflows and guidelines
• Want to be part of the evolving technology-driven language industry
• Have good time management skills and work efficiently

Consider a career as a Translator if you:

• Have exceptional writing skills in your target language
• Enjoy deep research and becoming an expert in specific domains
• Prefer creative problem-solving and cultural adaptation
• Value autonomy in your approach to projects
• Have specialized knowledge in particular industries
• Enjoy the craft of writing and language

Many language professionals develop skills in both areas to maximize their career opportunities and adapt to changing industry demands.

For Organizations Deciding Which Role to Hire

If you're a company looking to localize content, here's guidance on which role might better suit your needs:

Consider hiring Machine Translation Post-Editors when:

• You have large volumes of content with relatively straightforward language
• Speed and cost-efficiency are priorities
• Your content has a shorter shelf life or lower visibility
• You have established MT systems and workflows
• Your content is in domains where MT performs well
• You need to localize content into multiple languages quickly

Consider hiring Translators when:

• Your content requires creative adaptation or cultural sensitivity
• You're creating high-visibility marketing or branding materials
• Your content involves specialized terminology or complex concepts
• Legal or compliance requirements demand human translation
• You're entering new markets and need cultural consultation
• Quality is a higher priority than speed or cost

Many organizations use a hybrid approach, employing traditional translation for high-value content and MTPE for higher-volume, more straightforward materials. Yardstick's Interview Intelligence can help you identify the right candidates with the specific skills needed for either role.

Additional Resources

To help you further understand these roles and make informed decisions about hiring or career paths:

• How to Conduct a Job Interview - Learn best practices for interviewing language professionals to identify the right skills for your needs.
• AI Job Description Generator - Create tailored job descriptions for translator or post-editor positions based on your specific requirements.
• Interview Question Generator - Generate effective interview questions to assess candidates' language skills, technical abilities, and other relevant competencies.
• Compare Roles - Explore other role comparisons to better understand how language professionals fit into your organization.
• Writing a Job Description - Get guidance on creating clear, effective job descriptions that attract the right language professionals.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Language Needs

The distinction between Machine Translation Post-Editors and Translators represents the evolving nature of the language services industry. While both roles contribute to breaking down language barriers, they serve different purposes and require different skill sets.

For individuals, understanding these differences can help guide career development and specialization choices. For organizations, recognizing when to use each approach can optimize your localization strategy for quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

As machine translation technology continues to advance, the relationship between these roles will likely continue to evolve. The most successful language professionals and organizations will be those who understand the strengths and limitations of both human translation and machine-assisted approaches.

Ready to build a team with the right mix of language professionals? Sign up for Yardstick to improve your hiring process and ensure you find candidates with the perfect skill set for your language service needs.