The Market

To understand the market size, we flow from the global language services market to the specific sign language services market:

• The global language services market is valued at US$ 60.68 billion in 2022 and is predicted to reach US$ 96.21 billion by the end of 2032 (CAGR of 5.94%)^[1].
  • ⤷ The translation service market is valued at US$ 26.6 billion in 2022^[2] and US$ 41.3 billion in 2024 (CAGR of 2.30%)^[3].
    • ⤷ The size of the interpreting market in 2019 was estimated at US$ 7.6 billion^[4].
      • ⤷ The global sign language interpretation services market size (including both in-person and remote) was valued at approximately US$ 0.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to touch US$ 1.5 billion by 2032 (CAGR of 8.5%)^[5]. This is in conflict with the estimated United States market of US$ 1.2 billion^[6].

From a broader perspective, the entire sign language economy in the U.S. alone is estimated to range between US$ 3 billion and US$ 10 billion annually. This includes diverse services and sectors that support the deaf and signing community.^[7]

To estimate the global sign language market, we extrapolate based on trends in developed nations ranked within the top 30 of the Human Development Index^[8], which mirror the U.S., especially in terms of accessibility regulations and inclusivity. This includes the recently enacted European Accessibility Act^[9], the Accessible Canada Act (2019)^[10], Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act (1992)^[11], among others. The total population of these developed nations is 1.09 billion^[12]. Extrapolating from the U.S. market of US$ 10 billion^[7:1] from a population of 345.4 million^[12:1], the global sign language market is estimated at US$ 31.6 billion.

Economic Impact^[13]

TIP

All monetary values in this section are originally reported in 2015 international dollars. For 2024 equivalents, a conversion factor of 1.33 is applied.

Hearing loss has a profound economic impact on individuals and society, resulting in substantial costs across multiple domains. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the global annual cost of unaddressed hearing loss was approximately $980 billion in 2015 international dollars, which translates to $1.303 trillion in 2024 values. These costs are distributed as follows:

Category	Description	Cost (2015)	Cost (2024)
Healthcare Sector	Healthcare costs for children and adults due to unaddressed hearing loss, excluding hearing devices.	$314 billion	$417.62 billion
Educational Sector	Costs for educational support for children (ages 5–14) with moderate to severe hearing loss.	$27 billion	$35.91 billion
Productivity Loss	Losses from unemployment and early retirement among people with hearing loss.	$182.5 billion	$242.73 billion
Societal Costs	Costs due to social isolation, communication barriers, and stigma, calculated using DALYs.	$456.5 billion	$607.14 billion
Total	Aggregate global cost of unaddressed hearing loss.	$980 billion	$1.303 trillion

From the report:^[13:1][14]

Quote

Implementing H.E.A.R.I.N.G. interventions can significantly benefit countries. Over a 10-year period, this promises a return of nearly US$ 16 for every 1 dollar invested.

Perception and Impact

Disabled people face significantly more challenges than non-disabled people in accessing products (41.6% vs. 15.8%) and services (51.5% vs. 25.2%)^[15].

National Captioning Institute research^[16] found that 66% of viewers of captioned TV are more likely to buy a product that has a captioned commercial; 53% will actively seek out products advertised with captions; and, 35% will switch to brands that use captioned ads.

Examples of companies investing in sign language in recent years:

• Chase Bank and Starbucks opened a "signing branch" near Gallaudet University and hired Deaf employees
• Comcast established customer service in ASL (https://aslnow.com/)
• Proctor Gamble established an internship program with Gallaudet University
• Recent partnerships with Gallaudet University: Microsoft, Qualcomm, Google, NSA, IDB (Inter-American Development Bank)
• Zoom, Flipgrid, GoReact are only a few examples of video-based companies which have quickly realized heeding the input of Deaf consumers is key to their business.
• Apple partnered with Gallaudet University to spotlight schools for the deaf, and deaf-owned businesses (https://gallaudet.edu/signing-ecosystem/)

Market Segments in the United States

The sign language services market is segmented into various categories, including: The entire sign language economy in 2022 in the U.S. alone is estimated to range between US$ 3 billion and US$ 10 billion annually.^[7:2]

Early Intervention

Early intervention programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing children receive substantial funding from both federal and state sources. In 2024, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) allocated US$ 18.8 million to state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided an additional US$ 10.7 million to support early hearing loss detection and family support services.^[17]

In addition to federal contributions, individual states supplement these efforts with their own funding, often ranging between US$ 1–2 million per stateCitation Needed, leading to an estimated total nationwide funding of US$ 50–100 million. These investments support newborn hearing screenings, early intervention services, and educational resources to ensure language development for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Education

Supporting deaf students in mainstream schools is estimated to be between US$ 10,558 and US$ 20,000 per student in 2004^[18]. With 320,849 deaf and hard of hearing students in the U.S.^[19], the cost is estimated to range from US$ 3.38 to 6.41 billion.

Gallaudet University lists 175 Schools & Programs for the Deaf/HH^[20]. Schools for the deaf have a US$ 14 million average budgetCitation Needed. Given 74^[21] schools (49 residential, 25 day), deaf education is estimated at US$ 1 billion. Adjusted to US$ 80,000 average cost per student^[22], given 7,854 students (see below), it is estimated at US$ 628 million.

There are also three higher education institutions for the deaf^[21:1] in the United States that receive funding from the United States Department of Education. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf receive US$ 92.5 million^[23], and Gallaudet University receives US$ 165.4 million^[24]. An estimated 237,000 deaf students are enrolled in college^[25].

Deaf Student Population

There are an estimated 320,849 school-age deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students in the U.S.^[19:1]. Of these, in 2021 approximately 78,545 received special education services under IDEA^[26]. Roughly 20.8% are in specialized schools and programs for deaf and hard of hearing students^[27], split between 10.8% in regular schools, 7.9% in separate schools, and 2.1% in residential facilities. This results in an estimated 7,854 students attending residential or day schools for the deaf.

Per-pupil Expenditures

Supporting deaf students in specialized schools remains expensive, with per-pupil expenditures often exceeding $80,000–$130,000^[22:1] annually. Schools like the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (~$104,000)^[28], California Schools for the Deaf (> $87,000)^[29], and the Maryland School for the Deaf (~$126,000)^[30] operate within this range. Similar figures appear in Arizona (~$74,300)^[31], North Carolina’s deaf schools (~$100,000)^[32], and New York’s 4201 schools ($79,414–$133,231)^[33], underscoring that six-figure per-student costs are common in specialized deaf education.

Transition services

Transition services to address failures in sign language access in education and other factors are estimated to cost US$ 313.5 million.

• Post-secondary Education Support: The Post-secondary Education Center for Individuals who are deaf or Hard of Hearing receives US$ 1.3 million to support collaborations with post-secondary institutions, SEAs, LEAs, State VR agencies, VR service providers, and other organizations to meet the educational and vocational needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing^[34].
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 94,000 clients in the Vocational Rehabilitation System are deaf, which means 7.9% of the total appropriations for vocational rehabilitation services at US$ 3.76 billion is allocated to services in sign language, at US$ 297 million^[35].
• Helen Keller National Center: The Helen Keller Center for Deaf-Blindness received US$ 16 million in funding from the U.S. government in 2021^[36], and US$ 19 million in 2023-2025^[37].

Sign Language Teaching (to hearing people)

Hanover Research estimates that the potential size of the market for online ASL courses in colleges/universities (in terms of revenue from tuition) is projected to US$ 122 million by 2022.^[38] Under the assumption that 20% of all ASL instruction will be provided online.

In 2014, online ASL tuition rates range from $271 to $394 per hour. Gallaudet University currently charges $993 for its online ASL courses^[39].

ASL classes in K-12 public education are estimated at US$ 37.2 million in 2017^[40].

Baby signing classes and materials in 2018, is "at minimum", US$ 25 million^[41].

Telecommunications Relay Services

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spends approximately US$ 1.9 billion per year ($159 million per month^[42]) on all relay services. Their public reports do not provide detailed breakdowns by service type. However, the total TRS Fund budget for the 2024-2025 Fund Year is approximately US$ 1.49 billion^[43].

Service	Description	Audience	Cost (Per Minute)[43:1]
Direct Video Calling (DVC)	Direct video calls to sign language-fluent customer service representatives.	ASL users; customer service interactions	Undisclosed
Video Relay Service (VRS)	Video calls with an interpreter facilitating communication between ASL users and hearing individuals.	ASL users	$8.06 (small providers); $6.51 (Tier 1); $4.07 (Tier II)
IP Relay	Voice calls with text relay operators communicating through a teletypewriter (TTY).	Users with hearing or speech disabilities	$2.12
Traditional TTY-Based TRS	Enables text-based communication using teletypewriter devices over traditional phone lines.	Users with hearing or speech disabilities	$6.12
Speech-to-Speech Relay Service (STS)	Facilitates communication for individuals with speech disabilities via relay operators trained to understand unclear speech.	Users with speech disabilities	$7.25
Captioned Telephone Service (CTS)	Allows individuals with hearing loss to read captions of what the other party says while speaking.	Users with hearing loss who can speak	$2.78
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)	Video interpreting for on-site or private use, often in hospitals or businesses.	ASL users; private settings	Not regulated by the FCC[44]

Looking at the combined revenue of VRS providers, the VRS market alone is estimated at US$ 480 million for 2019^[45], and US$ 626 million for 2023^[46]. For VRI, in the United States, similar estimates of US$ 250 million^[45:1] and US$ 1.81 billion worldwide.

Live Interpreting

Interpreting Services are estimated given a US$ 83,313 average yearly salary^[47] times 10,385 certified interpreters^[48] gives US$ 865 million. In 2021, they were estimated to be US$ 1.2 billion^[6:1].

The cost of hiring a sign language interpreter varies based on setting, location, and format (in-person vs. remote). In the U.S., hourly rates range from US$ 50 to US$ 145, with an average of US$ 75–US$ 125 per hour[^interpreting-rates]. Most agencies require a two-hour minimum booking. Global prices are comparable in developed regions, with UK rates at £120–£150 per short assignment (~US$150–US$190)[^bsl-rates].

Pricing by Setting

• Corporate & Conferences: US$75–US$125/hour, often necessitating teams for extended events^[49].
• Medical: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hospitals are required to provide interpreters^[50]. US$70–US$120/hour for on-site interpreters; US$0.99–US$3/min for Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)^[51].
• Legal & Courtrooms: US$80–US$140/hour, requiring certified interpreters^[52]. Courts often mandate two interpreters for lengthy cases.
• Educational: US$70–US$120/hour in higher education; US$20–US$30/hour for full-time K–12 staff interpreters^[53].

Rate Structures & Additional Fees

• Hourly vs. Daily: Some interpreters offer day rates (~US$485 for 8+ hours)^[54].
• Travel Fees: Additional costs may include mileage and lodging for long-distance assignments^[49:1].
• Remote (VRI) vs. In-Person: US$0.99–US$3/min for VRI; US$35–US$100/hour for scheduled remote sessions^[51:1].

Existing Sign Language Technology Enterprise Deals

• Miami-Dade Innovation Authority's pilot program invested US$ 100,000 in Signapse with the goal of improving airport services.^[55]
• El Al Israel Airlines through Cockpit innovation has partnered with VSL Labs for an undisclosed amount.^[56]
• Belgrade Central Station^[57] and Belgrade Airport^[58] has partnered with SignAvatar to provide sign language information services.

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5. Business Research Insights. 2024. Sign Language Interpretation Services Market Size. ↩︎

6. Einpresswire. 2021. 1.2 billion ASL interpretation market presents opportunity for consolidation. ↩︎ ↩︎

7. Gallaudet University. 2022. How Sign Language is Driving a Multi-Billion Dollar Inclusive Economy. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

8. United Nations Development Programme. 2024. Human Development Index (HDI). ↩︎

9. European Commission. 2019. European Accessibility Act: An Overview. ↩︎

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11. Australian Government. 1992. Disability Discrimination Act. ↩︎

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13. World Health Organization. 2021. World Report on Hearing. ↩︎ ↩︎

14. World Health Organization. 2021. World Report on Hearing, Web Annex B: The Return on Investment From Actions To Prevent and/or Mitigate the Impact of Hearing Loss. ↩︎

15. Office for National Statistics. 2021. Disabled people’s access to products and services, Great Britain: February to March 2022. ↩︎

16. National Captioning Institute. 2004. Commercial and Infomercial Captioning. ↩︎

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18. U.S. Department of Education. 2004. Characteristics of High-Expenditure Students with Disabilities. ↩︎

19. United States Census Bureau. 2025. American Community Survey: Disability Characteristics. ↩︎ ↩︎

20. Gallaudet University. 2024. Schools & Programs for the Deaf/HH. ↩︎

21. Wikipedia. 2024. List of schools for the deaf. ↩︎ ↩︎

22. Lisa Snell. 2011. The Price Tag for Schools for the Deaf. ↩︎ ↩︎

23. National Technical Institute for the Deaf. 2024. Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request. ↩︎

24. Gallaudet University. 2024. Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request. ↩︎

25. National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes. 2023. Undergraduate Enrollment of Deaf Students in the United States (2019-2020). ↩︎

26. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). 2023. IDEA Section 618 Data Reports: State Level Data Files Part B Child Count. ↩︎

27. National Association of the Deaf. 2024. Position Statement on Educating PreK-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. ↩︎

28. Florida Senate Appropriations. 2023. FSDB Budget Summary. ↩︎

29. California Department of Education. 2011. CA Schools for the Deaf Budget. ↩︎

30. Maryland General Assembly. 2025. MSD Budget Analysis. ↩︎

31. Arizona JLBC Appropriations. 2022. AZ Schools for the Deaf and Blind Budget. ↩︎

32. North Carolina General Assembly. 2022. State Budget Summary for Deaf Schools. ↩︎

33. New York State Education Department. 2023. 4201 Schools Tuition Rates. ↩︎

34. U.S. Department of Education. 2019. Postsecondary Education Support for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. ↩︎

35. National Deaf Center. 2020. Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Deaf Americans. ↩︎

36. U.S. Department of Education. 2021. Rehabilitation Services Justification. ↩︎

37. U.S. Department of Education. 2024. FY2025 Department of Education Budget Summary Final. ↩︎

38. Hanover Research. 2014. Online American Sign Language Market Study. ↩︎

39. Gallaudet University. 2023. Fall 2023 Online Courses. ↩︎

40. American Councils. 2017. National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment Survey Report. ↩︎

41. New York Times. 2018. Sign Language Isn't Just for Babies. ↩︎

42. Federal Communications Commission. 2024. Direct Video Calling Data. ↩︎

43. Federal Communications Commission. 2024. Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service Program. ↩︎ ↩︎

44. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. 2012. VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING. ↩︎

45. Gallaudet University. 2022. The Sign Language Economy = Numbers and Impact. ↩︎ ↩︎

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50. American Psychological Association. 2020. How to pay for translation services. ↩︎

51. Languagers. 2025. Video Remote Interpretation Services – How Much Does VRI Cost?. ↩︎ ↩︎

52. Sorenson Communications. 2023. Specialized ASL Interpreting Services. ↩︎

53. Reddit. 2023. which costs more, CART or ASL interpretation?. ↩︎

54. Sonshine Interpreting. 2024. What is the Cost of a Professional Interpreter. ↩︎

55. Miami-Dade Airport. 2024. Mayor Levine Cava unveils winners of Public Innovation Challenge tasked with elevating the passenger experience at MIA. ↩︎

56. Tal Meged (CEO of VSL Labs). 2024. LinkedIn Post. ↩︎

57. Марија Стевановић. 2023. Prokop Dobio Sistem Koji Ne Postoji Nigde U Svetu. ↩︎

58. EX-YU Aviation News. 2024. Belgrade Airport trials sign language announcements. ↩︎