Court & Community Interpreter Per Diem - New Jersey

Priority Group Services • Newark, NJ

1d • $32 - $45

About The Position

Priority Group Services NJ is building a roster of professional interpreters for New Jersey courts, hospitals and clinics, schools, law firms, and community agencies. Assignments may be on-site, by phone (OPI), or by video (VRI), statewide. Most on-site work is in Essex, Hudson, Union, Passaic, Bergen, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. Phone and video assignments can be performed from anywhere in New Jersey.

This is an as-needed, per-diem independent contractor (1099) role with no guaranteed hours. Once approved, interpreters are contacted first for assignments matching their language, tier, and location and may accept assignments that suit them. Pay varies by assignment type, language, and credentials. NJ court rates are $280 half day / $495 full day for Journey interpreters and $320 / $566 for Master interpreters, in line with the NJ Judiciary rate table; languages other than Spanish are about 10% above that table. On-site medical, legal, and community work pays $32–$35 per hour for Spanish and $40–$45 per hour for other languages, with a 2-hour minimum and then 15-minute increments. On-site ASL work pays $55–$65 per hour, with a 2-hour minimum. OPI pays $0.30–$0.40 per minute for Spanish and $0.50–$0.65 per minute for other languages. VRI pays $0.45–$0.60 per minute for Spanish and $0.60–$0.75 per minute for other languages. Rates within ranges depend on credentials, including NJ Judiciary tier, CCHI or CMI, and RID. Half the fee is paid for cancellations inside 24 hours, and mileage is paid past 60 miles round trip. Rare languages receive a premium per assignment.

Interpreters must follow the NJ Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters, including accuracy, impartiality, and confidentiality. Onboarding includes a background check, language proficiency assessment, and short practice session. For phone and video assignments, interpreters need a quiet private room, headset, computer, and stable internet connection.

Requirements

• Fluency in English and the working language or languages.
• Consecutive and simultaneous interpreting and sight translation skills.
• For court work, approval by the NJ Judiciary as a Master or Journey interpreter in the relevant language, or federal court certification; conditionally approved interpreters are assigned only where the court accepts them.
• For ASL work, RID certification.
• Adherence to the NJ Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters.
• Successful completion of a background check, language proficiency assessment, and short practice session during onboarding.
• For phone and video work, access to a quiet private room, a headset, a computer, and a stable internet connection.

Nice To Haves

• For medical work, CCHI or NBCMI (CMI) certification is preferred; documented medical interpreter training plus experience is also accepted.
• NJ Judiciary tier, CCHI or CMI, and RID credentials affect rates within applicable ranges.

Responsibilities

• Provide interpreting services for New Jersey courts, hospitals and clinics, schools, law firms, and community agencies.
• Perform assignments on-site, by phone (OPI), or by video (VRI).
• Interpret consecutively and simultaneously and provide sight translation.
• Follow the NJ Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters, including requirements for accuracy, impartiality, and confidentiality.
• Complete onboarding, including a background check, language proficiency assessment, and short practice session.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: No Education Listed