Interpreters and Translators Salary
The median interpreters and translators salary in the United States is $60,170 per year ($28.93/hour). Salaries range from $37,070 at the entry level to $103,660+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 52,060 interpreters and translators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$60,170
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.93
per hour
Employment
52,060
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$37,070
25th percentile
$46,530
Median
$60,170
75th percentile
$80,830
90th percentile
$103,660
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+1.7%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
6,900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Interpreters and Translators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$42K$110K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$110K
+83%
Maryland
$89K
+47%
New York
$84K
+40%
Rhode Island
$82K
+37%
Massachusetts
$73K
+21%
Colorado
$72K
+19%
California
$71K
+18%
Connecticut
$68K
+14%
Minnesota
$66K
+10%
Oregon
$66K
+10%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,970 | +82.8% |
| Maryland | $88,550 | +47.2% |
| New York | $84,090 | +39.8% |
| Rhode Island | $82,320 | +36.8% |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 | +20.9% |
| Colorado | $71,790 | +19.3% |
| California | $70,770 | +17.6% |
| Connecticut | $68,340 | +13.6% |
| Minnesota | $66,410 | +10.4% |
| Oregon | $66,300 | +10.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 47
Interpreters and Translators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,530 | +68.7% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $94,510 | +57.1% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $93,960 | +56.2% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87,590 | +45.6% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84,960 | +41.2% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $83,680 | +39.1% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $83,200 | +38.3% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,440 | +37.0% |
| Salem, OR | $80,960 | +34.6% |
| Akron, OH | $80,640 | +34.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 162
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A interpreters and translators earning $60,170/year would need 991 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1064 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how interpreters and translators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Interpreters and Translators salary trend (2011–2024) →