CBP counted 21,471 Border Patrol agents in spring 2026, in a job its vacancy announcements say requires speaking and reading Spanish. The State Department had 14,152 Foreign Service employees on board on Oct. 31, 2025, the workforce its language-designated posts are filled from. This guide tracks the number of US federal jobs requiring language skills one agency at a time, using staffing releases, budget documents, BLS data and written hiring rules.
Number Of US Federal Jobs Requiring Language Skills
How Many US Federal Jobs Require Language Skills in 2026?
No single governmentwide total appears in the agency releases cited in this guide. The count has to be read from vacancy rules, staffing releases and budget documents, one workforce at a time.
Of the published headcounts here, the Border Patrol’s 21,471 agents (spring 2026) is the largest tied to a written language rule. CBP announcements say the work requires speaking and reading Spanish.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, June 24, 2026; USAJOBS Border Patrol Agent announcement
The Foreign Service had 14,152 employees on board on Oct. 31, 2025. Staff assigned to language-designated positions must hold a tested proficiency level before starting at post.
Source: Congressional Research Service, R48956 (updated July 30, 2026); U.S. Department of State, 13 FAM 201.2-3
Military language work shows up as training volume. DLIFLC-led instruction reaches about 34,000 Defense Department personnel a year.
Source: U.S. Air Force, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs, June 2025
These figures measure different things: agents on board, employees on board and trainees per year. They are not added together here.
21,471 Border Patrol Agents Hold Spanish-Required Federal Jobs
CBP reported 21,471 Border Patrol agents on board in spring 2026. The agency called it the highest staffing level in the Border Patrol’s 102-year history.
Chief Rosario Vasquez tied the record to progress toward a 25,000-agent goal. CBP offers hiring incentives of up to $60,000 for new agents in eligible locations.
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, national media release, June 24, 2026
The language rule sits in the vacancy text: Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish as well as English. Spanish instruction is provided at the academy in Artesia, New Mexico, and applicants can preview the basics with free Spanish worksheets for beginners.
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent posts at the academy state the rule as a condition of the job. Holders must be proficient in Spanish, meaning able to speak and read it.
Source: USAJOBS, CBP Border Patrol Agent and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent announcements
A year before the record, CBP employed about 19,000 Border Patrol agents, Federal News Network reported. CBP projected the House reconciliation funding would allow about 8,500 hires, including 3,000 Border Patrol agents.
Source: Federal News Network, May 2025
Federal Jobs Requiring Language Skills at the State Department
State’s rule is written into the Foreign Affairs Manual. Before assuming duties at post, an employee assigned to a language-designated position (LDP) must hold the tested proficiency level designated for it.
Source: U.S. Department of State, 13 FAM 201.2-3
The FY2027 budget counts the whole workforce, not LDPs. Foreign Service employment was 14,152 on Oct. 31, 2025, and the FY2027 request is 14,156.
| Personnel category | FY2025 estimate (on board Sept. 30, 2024) | FY2026 estimate (on board Oct. 31, 2025) | FY2027 request |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Service | 14,399 | 14,152 | 14,156 |
| Civil Service | 12,831 | 11,246 | 11,433 |
| Total | 27,230 | 25,398 | 25,589 |
Source: Congressional Research Service, R48956 (updated July 30, 2026), citing State’s FY2027 Congressional Budget Justification
State’s FY2025 reorganization removed 1,680 positions funded through Diplomatic Programs: 1,506 Civil Service and 174 Foreign Service. The cuts came through deferred resignations and reductions in force.
Source: Congressional Research Service, R48956, citing State’s FY2027 Congressional Budget Justification
On May 5, 2026, State separated more than 200 Foreign Service members under the reduction in force announced in July 2025. AFSA said those forced out included officers with rare language skills.
AFSA also objected to the elimination of the Qualifications Evaluation Panel, announced April 1, 2026, which it said helped identify candidates with Chinese, Arabic and Farsi skills. Learners starting on that script can use these beginner Arabic practice sheets.
Source: American Foreign Service Association statements, April 1 and May 5, 2026
What Would H.R. 10064 Count?
The Foreign Service Language Readiness Act (H.R. 10064) was introduced Aug. 6, 2026, by Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.). It was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
It would require a report by Dec. 31, 2027. The report would give, for each critical language, the number of Foreign Service members meeting minimum proficiency standards, plus a list of each Service position abroad that is language-designated.
As introduced, the bill sets a deadline. It does not itself publish a count.
Source: GovInfo, H.R. 10064, introduced Aug. 6, 2026
How Many Service Members Train for Language Jobs Each Year?
Col. Mark Jones, DLIFLC assistant commandant until June 2025, said the student footprint grew from 1,700 at the start of 2024 to 2,800 in 2025.
DLIFLC teaches 24 foreign languages to more than 3,600 students, including about 1,300 Air Force students at any given time.
The assistant commandant oversees instruction for about 34,000 Defense Department personnel a year. That instruction spans 89 languages and 29 locations worldwide.
Source: U.S. Air Force, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs, June 2025
These are trainees, not funded positions, and most of the 517th Training Group’s 1,300 Airmen are training to become cryptologic linguists. Civilian learners outside that pipeline can compare language course costs across major US cities.
Interpreter and Translator Jobs: Government Holds 5%
Interpreters and translators held about 73,900 jobs in 2025, BLS reports. Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals, held 5%, a category that combines federal, state and local employers.
| Employer | Share of interpreter and translator jobs, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 30% |
| Self-employed workers | 28% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 15% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 7% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 5% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025 employment (updated Aug. 27, 2026)
BLS projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, to 75,400 jobs, with about 6,000 openings a year. It expects the ongoing need for military and national security interpreters and translators to add jobs.
The same outlook says AI and other computer tools are making translators more efficient. BLS also lists time in a foreign country as useful preparation; see where US students study abroad.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35
Do Government Interpreters Earn More?
Government paid interpreters and translators a median $74,320 in May 2025, the highest of the four industries BLS lists. The occupation-wide median was $60,170.
The top 10% earned more than $103,660. BLS wage data exclude self-employed workers, who hold 28% of the jobs.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
What Changed for Federal Language Jobs Under Executive Order 14224?
Executive Order 14224, issued March 1, 2025, designated English as the official language of the United States. It revoked Executive Order 13166, the 2000 order on services for people with limited English proficiency.
Source: Executive Order 14224, Federal Register, March 2025
On July 14, 2025, the Justice Department said it would lead a coordinated effort across agencies to minimize non-essential multilingual services.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, July 14, 2025
HUD followed with an English-only notice. It said it would cease non-English translation services, drop contractor document translation and review contracts based solely on translation services.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, notice signed by Deputy Secretary Andrew D. Hughes, issued after the July 14, 2025 DOJ guidance
Congress has introduced bills pointing the other way. Rep. Grace Meng filed the Language Access for All Act on Jan. 22, 2026, and Sens. Andy Kim and Mazie Hirono introduced a Senate version in July 2026.
The Senate bill would bar agencies from fully replacing qualified translators and interpreters with AI-assisted services, Federal News Network reported.
Source: GovInfo, H.R. 7223 (Jan. 22, 2026); Federal News Network, July 2026
The records show a split. Spanish and proficiency rules remain written into enforcement and diplomatic hiring, while HUD has ended non-English translation services.
FAQs
How many federal jobs require a foreign language?
No single governmentwide total appears in the agency releases reviewed. The largest documented block is the Border Patrol, with 21,471 agents in spring 2026 in a job that requires speaking and reading Spanish.
How many interpreters and translators work for the government?
BLS counted about 73,900 interpreter and translator jobs in 2025, with 5% in government, excluding state and local education and hospitals. That share combines federal, state and local employers.
Do government translators get paid more?
At the median, yes. BLS reported a May 2025 median wage of $74,320 for interpreters and translators in government, compared with $60,170 across the whole occupation.
Reddit threads often ask: do you need Spanish to join the Border Patrol?
The job requires it. CBP announcements say Border Patrol work requires speaking and reading Spanish and English, with Spanish instruction provided at the academy. Free Spanish phrase flashcards help applicants start early.
What is a language-designated position at the State Department?
It is a Foreign Service position that requires a set foreign language proficiency. Under 13 FAM 201.2-3, the assigned employee must hold the required tested level before assuming duties at post.
Sources
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/border-patrol-sets-record-21471-agents-board
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R48956.html
https://www.lingobright.com/statistics/salary-premium-for-bilingual-employees-in-us-industries/
