Advantages of being a technical translator

Better rates
For many translators, specialising in technical translation is primarily a way to increase rates. It’s easier to justify a higher price when the work is specialised, whatever the field. In practice, average technical rates are higher than generalist rates, but that does not automatically mean higher earnings. Since translators are usually paid per word, speed matters as much as rate. Specialising can be a poor investment if you don’t restrict yourself to fields you truly know.

Repetitiveness enables automation
Technical texts—manuals, specifications, patents, etc.—are full of repetitions. This often reduces the real effort per translated word. To benefit, squeeze everything you can out of CAT tools. Even when agencies pre-segment files and give you word counts, good handling of TMs, segmentation rules, etc., can increase fuzzy matches and repetitions.

Specialists are harder to replace
The more specialised you are, the more indispensable you become. Remember the 2008–2014 crisis? Pressure on freelancers was intense: translator numbers ballooned while companies cut translation spend. The whole sector suffered, but specialists held up better. Many firms, forced to save costs, brought translation in-house—especially non-specialist work (“Have Cristina translate this letter; she lived in the US and speaks good English”).

The appeal of specialised texts
General translation has its charm—it broadens your knowledge—but technical work can become almost addictive, especially when you stay within one field. It’s common for technical translators to subscribe to specialist journals and attend industry conferences not only for business, but out of genuine interest.