How much does a language translator earns in UK and what are the perks?

I am thinking of improving my skills in German language and have a career change. But don't know where and how to start? Is it worth being a language translator or any job related to speaking different languages, is the pay good? Do I need a professional degree to be a translator? How much would that cost and how long would the course be?|||Most courses in translation are either degree courses or postgraduate courses. Here is an example. http://www.findamasters.com/search/Cours鈥?/a> The pay is poor unless you can land yourself a lucrative job in an international organisation. If you are intending to work as a freelance, the prospects aren't good: the rates of pay haven't gone up in over a decade and meanwhile overheads such as electricity and gas have risen inexorably. You speak of a career change. Does that mean that you have specialist knowledge which would help in your new career? The only way to stand out from the crowd is to offer more by way of competence and expertise than the next person.|||Your German would need to be at degree level, yes. The perks, for those of us who translate books for example, that you work from home and set your own timetable, as long as you fulfil your deadlines.