Interpreters and Translators salary in the U.S.
Interpreters and Translators in the U.S. earn a median of $60,170 a year ($28.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 52,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,660 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $66,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interpreters and translators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| 25th percentile | $46,530 | $22.37 |
| Median | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| 75th percentile | $80,830 | $38.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,660 | $49.84 |
| Average (mean) | $66,360 | $31.90 |
Half of interpreters and translators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,014.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,507.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,314.23 |
| Weekly | $1,157.12 |
| Hourly | $28.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Interpreters and Translators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,970 | 280 |
| Maryland | $88,550 | 1,150 |
| New York | $84,090 | 3,240 |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | 2,280 |
| Colorado | $71,790 | 800 |
| California | $70,770 | 5,560 |
| Connecticut | $68,340 | 280 |
| Minnesota | $66,410 | 1,030 |
| Oregon | $66,300 | 660 |
| Idaho | $66,130 | 300 |
| Utah | $65,770 | 850 |
| New Mexico | $63,550 | 360 |
| Maine | $63,470 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $63,390 | 1,410 |
| Virginia | $63,030 | 1,630 |
| Vermont | $62,450 | 80 |
| Washington | $61,750 | 1,250 |
| Ohio | $61,230 | 2,030 |
| New Jersey | $58,970 | 870 |
| Georgia | $57,880 | 1,600 |
| Mississippi | $57,130 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,040 | 1,420 |
| Missouri | $57,010 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $56,370 | 240 |
| Illinois | $55,290 | 1,510 |
| Kentucky | $53,590 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $53,140 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $53,050 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $52,490 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $51,080 | 710 |
| South Carolina | $50,860 | 520 |
| Nevada | $50,370 | 320 |
| Arizona | $50,150 | 2,070 |
| North Carolina | $50,030 | 1,780 |
| Oklahoma | $48,980 | 320 |
| Florida | $48,930 | 4,200 |
| Louisiana | $48,420 | 120 |
| North Dakota | $48,190 | 130 |
| Iowa | $48,150 | 560 |
| Indiana | $48,140 | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $47,950 | 470 |
| Montana | $47,850 | 60 |
| Texas | $47,510 | 6,780 |
| Alabama | $46,130 | 310 |
| Michigan | $45,310 | 940 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,990 | 130 |
| Hawaii | $42,270 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for interpreters and translators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,530 | 300 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $94,510 | 1,630 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $93,960 | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,590 | 2,520 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,960 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,680 | 760 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $83,200 | 370 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,440 | 70 |
| Salem, OR | $80,960 | 100 |
| Akron, OH | $80,640 | 100 |
| Boise City, ID | $80,250 | 140 |
| Lancaster, PA | $78,890 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $78,030 | 140 |
| Rochester, NY | $77,770 | 450 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,920 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most interpreters and translators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,530 | $44,490 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,520 | $87,590 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,720 | $50,070 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,660 | $75,120 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,630 | $94,510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,480 | $69,460 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,280 | $56,920 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,170 | $49,470 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,130 | $60,420 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,070 | $59,660 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 960 | $61,120 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 770 | $57,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 760 | $83,680 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 700 | $47,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 690 | $65,800 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interpreters and translators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for interpreters and translators in the U.S. is $60,170 a year, or $28.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interpreters and translators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of interpreters and translators in the U.S. earn at least $103,660 a year. The top 25% earn $80,830 or more.
What is the starting pay for interpreters and translators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,070 a year, and a quarter of interpreters and translators earn $46,530 or less.
How many interpreters and translators work in the U.S.?
About 52,060 interpreters and translators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.